As physicalisms of various kinds have faced difficulties in recent years, the time has come to explore possible alternatives, one of which is yinyang ontology. A yinyang theorist is expected to provide a plausible acc...As physicalisms of various kinds have faced difficulties in recent years, the time has come to explore possible alternatives, one of which is yinyang ontology. A yinyang theorist is expected to provide a plausible account of causation to replace the traditional notion of causation. The present paper is critical of the Humean tradition, which understands the relata of causal relations in terms of passive materiality so that humans use referential terms to describe causal relations constructively. But an alternative notion of reference is available according to which causal relata are active processors of the information with which they interact. On this latter view, humans use referential language to describe the structure in which the relata interrelate themselves so that the structure can be understood hermeneutically. Reference on this view is naturalized. In this article, I advance two arguments for this thesis, one concerning the informationality of states and the other related to the essentiality of properties.展开更多
She and he met in an unusual way. He was impressed by her, but she was frightened by his way of introducing himself. Not until twelve years later did he have the chance to explain to her: cultural differences may lead...She and he met in an unusual way. He was impressed by her, but she was frightened by his way of introducing himself. Not until twelve years later did he have the chance to explain to her: cultural differences may lead to different ways of expressing feelings. But one thing is universal.展开更多
This paper addresses a set of ideological tensions involving the classification of agential kinds,which I see as the methodological and conceptual core of the sentience discourse.Specifically,I consider ideals involve...This paper addresses a set of ideological tensions involving the classification of agential kinds,which I see as the methodological and conceptual core of the sentience discourse.Specifically,I consider ideals involved in the classification of biological and artifactual kinds,and ideals related to agency,identity,and value.These ideals frame the background against which sentience in Artificial Intelligence(AI)is theorized and debated,a framework I call the AIdeal.To make this framework explicit,I review the historical discourse on sentience as it appears in ancient,early modern,and the 20th century philosophy,paying special attention to how these ideals are projected onto artificial agents.I argue that tensions among these ideals create conditions where artificial sentience is both necessary and impossible,resulting in a crisis of ideology.Moving past this crisis does not require a satisfying resolution among competing ideals,but instead requires a shift in focus to the material conditions and actual practices in which these ideals operate.Following Charles Mills,I sketch a nonideal approach to AI and artificial sentience that seeks to loosen the grip of ideology on the discourse.Specifically,I propose a notion of participation that deflates the sentience discourse in AI and shifts focus to the material conditions in which sociotechnical networks operate.展开更多
文摘As physicalisms of various kinds have faced difficulties in recent years, the time has come to explore possible alternatives, one of which is yinyang ontology. A yinyang theorist is expected to provide a plausible account of causation to replace the traditional notion of causation. The present paper is critical of the Humean tradition, which understands the relata of causal relations in terms of passive materiality so that humans use referential terms to describe causal relations constructively. But an alternative notion of reference is available according to which causal relata are active processors of the information with which they interact. On this latter view, humans use referential language to describe the structure in which the relata interrelate themselves so that the structure can be understood hermeneutically. Reference on this view is naturalized. In this article, I advance two arguments for this thesis, one concerning the informationality of states and the other related to the essentiality of properties.
文摘She and he met in an unusual way. He was impressed by her, but she was frightened by his way of introducing himself. Not until twelve years later did he have the chance to explain to her: cultural differences may lead to different ways of expressing feelings. But one thing is universal.
文摘This paper addresses a set of ideological tensions involving the classification of agential kinds,which I see as the methodological and conceptual core of the sentience discourse.Specifically,I consider ideals involved in the classification of biological and artifactual kinds,and ideals related to agency,identity,and value.These ideals frame the background against which sentience in Artificial Intelligence(AI)is theorized and debated,a framework I call the AIdeal.To make this framework explicit,I review the historical discourse on sentience as it appears in ancient,early modern,and the 20th century philosophy,paying special attention to how these ideals are projected onto artificial agents.I argue that tensions among these ideals create conditions where artificial sentience is both necessary and impossible,resulting in a crisis of ideology.Moving past this crisis does not require a satisfying resolution among competing ideals,but instead requires a shift in focus to the material conditions and actual practices in which these ideals operate.Following Charles Mills,I sketch a nonideal approach to AI and artificial sentience that seeks to loosen the grip of ideology on the discourse.Specifically,I propose a notion of participation that deflates the sentience discourse in AI and shifts focus to the material conditions in which sociotechnical networks operate.
