How can Philosophy help in the Age of AI?

Originally Published on Stefan Speaks

In our modern world, many believe that philosophy is outdated, that we have arrived at science, which can solve all of our problems eventually, and that philosophy is not much more than a bunch of old men arguing about silly things.

In other words, it's not consequential.

However, the opposite is true.

All of us are physical beings, but we spend far more of our attention on our psyche, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions than on our physicality.

You FEEL every moment, and you are fully immersed in thinking. However, you might not be aware of your posture, breathing, or the texture of the clothes on your back.

We are psycho-physical beings, and our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions dominate our actual experience.

They dominate, color, and shape our experience. They define it.

And all of this is deeply psychological; it's ideological and has a philosophical structure that supports it.

In other words, our experience and perception of the world reflect our own philosophy.

Now, let's look at how all this works, what it means in the Age of AI, and how it can help us better understand our problems and uncover their solutions.

The Cycle of Change & Mirrored in Our Philosophy

Did you know that Philosophy is essentially always late to the game?

As humanity evolves over time, we change our societies, culture, and the world around us.

These changes happen slowly and over long periods. They begin to seep into our language, stories, art, and music.

Then, eventually, someone notices these patterns.

They reflect on what these changes mean, what they say about the nature of reality and our relationship to it, and how they inform us of what is 'the good,' 'the beautiful,' and 'the true.'

They bring forth systems of thought that codify these patterns, thus bringing greater clarity and understanding.

These philosophical systems are then adopted by the culture, help interpret the religions of the day, and give people a set of stories that help them make sense of their place in the world and guide their behavior for the common good.

This fortifies society and gets everyone going in a similar direction, which leads to progress (hopefully).

As members of society produce value, eventually, they transform their world.

Slowly, their world begins to change until, eventually, it's a new world!

In the new world, the old stories no longer work, and the old values are less valuable.

And it is a time of great change.

During periods of great change, people start to feel lost. The ground beneath their feet is shifting, and they aren't sure which way to go.

This comes from internal conflict and often spills into outer conflict. This can be political violence, wars, etc…

We are currently in such a time. A time of massive change and many are feeling lost of where we are, where we are going and our place in the world.

AI technology is making us question our value, our intelligence, and the meaning of our lives.

And in this moment, what we really need more than anything else is to reflect.

We need to become aware of our own beliefs and assumptions about the world and what it means to us.

To reflect on what you fear and why you suffer.

Consider what you actually know vs. believe or assume to be true.

To ponder what 'the good, the beautiful and the true' is.

Once we are able to answer these questions for ourselves, they can provide a solid foundation and a path forward.

Once we get ourselves right, we can put our house in order, help bring stability to our friends and family, and become a meaningful beacon for our society.