符号人工智能的观念起源研究——基于霍布斯机械唯物论的分析

The Ideological Origin of Symbolic Artificial Intelligence:An Analysis Based on Hobbes'Mechanical Materialism

近代机械唯物论者霍布斯将语词符号看作思维活动的基础,明确指出语词的几何学定义是人类进行理性推理的开端,理性推理本质上是一种计算,即语词的加减运算。在此基础上,他进一步揭示了人与机器之间的相似性关系,认为人是与语言相关联的、受机械运动支配的自动装置,并强调人类可以凭借哲学这一“理性之光”阐明事物的因果关系,发展出对自身有益的结果。霍布斯的哲学观意在给出理性推理的抽象描述,一定意义上构成了符号人工智能的观念起源。

Thomas Hobbes, the modern mechanical materialist, viewed word symbols as the basis of thinking, showed the geometric definitions of words were the beginning of human ratiocination, and indicated in essence ratiocination was calculation, namely, it was the addition and subtraction of words.On this basis, he further revealed the similar relationship between man and machinery, explained man as the automatic device controlled by mechanical movement and related to language.And he emphasized that we can elucidate the causal relationship of things and get the results that are good for ourselves by the light of reason, that is, philosophical knowledge.Along the way, it is not difficult to find that Hobbes’ philosophy is intended to give an abstract description of ratiocination.In a sense, it is the ideological origin of symbolic artificial intelligence.