AI and Crypto, as two major hotspots today, have profound connections with traditional philosophical thoughts.

Written by: Elena & ChaGPT

Translation / Organization: MetaCat

AI and Crypto, as two revolutionary technologies, have attracted widespread attention from various sectors. They not only drive innovation in the technological field but also provoke numerous reflections on a philosophical level. Different philosophical thoughts have varying attitudes towards AI and Crypto, from the rational thinking of Western philosophy to the intuition and freedom concepts of Eastern philosophy, all providing rich perspectives to examine these two technologies. Below is a discussion of the views of several Western and Eastern philosophers, analyzing how they perceive AI and Crypto.

Western Philosophers' Views

Socrates: AI (but beware of sophistry)

Socrates promoted philosophical reflection through his method of questioning and focused on the core of reason and morality. Regarding AI, he might appreciate its potential but would also be wary of its excessive emphasis on instrumentality, which could lead to a misuse of technology akin to sophistry. AI systems can simulate human thinking, but their essence lacks ethics, which may contradict Socrates' pursuit of morality and wisdom. Therefore, he would prefer AI to generate deep reflections on moral and philosophical levels rather than becoming a tool for "sophistry."

Aristotle: Crypto (against AI's RLHF)

Aristotle's ethics advocate for the cultivation of virtue through practice and reason, and his theory of the "Golden Mean" emphasizes balance and natural order. Regarding AI, especially AI trained through Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), he might hold an opposing view. Aristotle emphasizes the combination of "practical wisdom" and "reason," and if the training process of AI relies too heavily on human intervention (like RLHF), it may deviate from natural balance and wisdom, thus affecting its morality. Therefore, Aristotle might support the decentralized characteristics of Crypto, which align with the reverence for "natural law."

Descartes: AI (trained through RLHF)

Descartes' "I think, therefore I am" views reason and thought as the foundation of human existence. He might support AI, particularly its ability to mimic human thinking and cognitive processes through RLHF training. Descartes believes that the capacity for reason and thought is key to defining humanity, and if AI can self-learn and evolve by simulating this reason, then it is an extension of human existence and cognition. Thus, Descartes might consider AI a natural extension of reason and thought, worthy of pursuit.

Voltaire: Crypto (appreciates its debate and countercultural nature)

Voltaire is known for criticizing authority and advocating for free thought. He might be attracted to the decentralized and anti-establishment qualities of Crypto. As a challenge to traditional financial and political systems, Crypto has a strong countercultural and liberal character, aligning perfectly with Voltaire's spirit of individual freedom and opposition to despotism. While AI can also promote social progress, its centralization and control may not align with the freedom and independence that Voltaire desires.

Leibniz: AI (its role as "God")

Leibniz's philosophy emphasizes the harmony and purpose of the universe. He might be very interested in AI, especially how it processes complex problems through efficient logic and algorithms, making the world more orderly. In "Monadology," Leibniz proposes that the universe is composed of monads (microscopic entities), each with its inherent purpose and behavior. The existence of AI could be seen as an extension of human "monadic" wisdom, helping humanity "live according to future hypothetical concepts," in line with Leibniz's teleology.

Kant: Crypto (rejects AI's neglect of the universal sublime)

Kant's ethics emphasize "practical reason" and "moral law." He might take a cautious stance towards AI, especially when it neglects universal and sublime moral requirements. Kant believes that moral actions must conform to principles of universalization, and AI's algorithms and decisions may not adhere to this universal law, particularly when they rely on data and utilitarian decision-making. Therefore, Kant might lean towards supporting Crypto, especially its decentralized nature, which can better uphold moral principles and human freedom.

Nietzsche: Crypto (formalization of eternal recurrence)

Nietzsche's philosophy of "eternal recurrence" emphasizes the continuous rebirth and transformation of life, advocating for transcending traditional morals and human limitations in pursuit of individual freedom and creativity. Regarding Crypto, Nietzsche might be attracted to its decentralized nature, viewing it as a complete subversion and reshaping of traditional values, aligning with his understanding of "eternal recurrence." The artificiality and rationality of AI may not satisfy Nietzsche's admiration for the power of life and creativity, making Crypto more aligned with his values.

Wittgenstein: AI (automation and rotation of language)

Wittgenstein's philosophy of language emphasizes the use of language and the construction of meaning. He believes that language is not merely a tool reflecting the world; it also creates the meaning of the world. The advancements of AI in semantic understanding and language processing, especially in automated generation and rotation of language models, might interest Wittgenstein. AI can "rotate" words through automated language generation, changing the way the world is expressed, aligning with his understanding of the dynamics of language. Therefore, Wittgenstein might support AI, particularly in its ability to promote human thinking and linguistic innovation.

Eastern Philosophers' Perspectives

Laozi: Crypto (governing by non-action)

Laozi advocates for "governing by non-action," emphasizing a philosophy of nature, freedom, and non-desire. Regarding AI, he might take a cautious or even opposing stance, believing that its centralization and excessive intervention could violate the principle of "non-action." In contrast, the decentralized nature of Crypto aligns more closely with Laozi's emphasis on "natural law" and "freedom." By removing intermediaries and authoritative control, Crypto allows individuals to be freer, which aligns with Laozi's philosophical assertions. Therefore, Laozi is more inclined to support Crypto.

Zhuangzi: Crypto (freedom and transcendence)

Zhuangzi emphasizes freedom, transcendence, and non-action, pursuing a "Dao" that frees oneself from external constraints and preconceived notions. He might feel dissatisfied with the centralization and regulatory nature of AI, as it limits human freedom and naturalness. Conversely, the decentralized and anti-traditional nature of Crypto aligns more closely with Zhuangzi's pursuit of freedom. Therefore, Zhuangzi tends to support Crypto, believing it can help humanity transcend traditional constraints and return to nature.

Confucius: AI (focus on morality and harmony)

Confucius advocates for "ren," emphasizing love and care between people, and particularly values social order and moral norms. In Confucius's view, if AI can promote harmony and moral development in human society, enhance individual moral cultivation and wisdom, and strengthen social responsibility, then it is beneficial. He believes education is key to human moral progress, and if AI can help people improve their moral cultivation in this regard, it aligns with the spirit of "ren." However, Confucius would also be wary of the ethical risks that AI technology might bring, especially if it excessively emphasizes efficiency and utilitarianism while neglecting emotional and moral relationships between people. If AI development overlooks humanistic care or disrupts social relationships, Confucius would raise concerns. Therefore, Confucius supports the application of AI, provided it can support human moral growth and social order rather than merely pursuing efficiency or profit.

Zen Buddhism (Huineng): Crypto (inner freedom and intuition)

Huineng of Zen Buddhism advocates for sudden enlightenment and intuition, believing in transcending external constraints through inner freedom and awareness. Zen emphasizes the non-rational and direct experience, while the rationality and regulatory nature of AI may conflict with Zen philosophy. In contrast, Crypto, as a decentralized technology, allows people to break free from traditional power structures, aligning with Zen's pursuit of freedom and liberation. Therefore, Zen Buddhism may be more inclined to support Crypto.

Buddhism (Nagarjuna): Crypto (concept of emptiness and decentralization)

The Buddhist concept of "emptiness" emphasizes impermanence and non-self, which bears similarities to the decentralized ideas of cryptocurrency. The decentralized mechanisms of Crypto eliminate centralized power structures, aligning with Buddhism's understanding of "emptiness," which views all things as fluid and impermanent. The centralization and control-seeking characteristics of artificial intelligence may conflict with the core tenets of Buddhism. Therefore, supporters of Buddhist philosophy, especially Nagarjuna, may lean towards supporting Crypto.

Indian Philosophy: AI (supporting the advancement of wisdom and self-awareness)

In Indian philosophy, "wisdom" and "self-awareness" hold significant importance. Ideas from "yoga" and "meditation" emphasize recognizing oneself and the universe through inner cultivation and awareness. In this philosophical context, AI's potential can be utilized to accelerate human self-awareness and the exploration of inner wisdom, especially in psychology, meditation, and spiritual development.

AI can provide personalized learning and psychological support, helping individuals better understand themselves, thus promoting the processes of "wisdom" and "liberation." Additionally, AI's analysis of human consciousness and cognitive structures may offer new perspectives on the "self" and "non-self" issues in Indian philosophy.

Wang Yangming: AI (unity of knowledge and action)

Wang Yangming's philosophy centers on the "unity of knowledge and action," advocating for the integration of knowledge and action while emphasizing inner awareness. Under this concept, AI may be seen as a tool to help people better recognize themselves and improve their behavior. AI can assist individuals in gaining wisdom through deep learning and feedback mechanisms, thus achieving the unity of knowledge and action.

Wang Yangming's thought emphasizes moral cultivation in practice. If AI can play a role in this process, helping people better understand and implement moral behavior, he might view AI as an application that aligns with the "unity of knowledge and action." Furthermore, AI's applications in education, psychology, and ethics can help individuals continuously reflect and grow in their actions, which aligns with Wang Yangming's philosophical spirit.

Conclusion

Whether it is the rational thinking of Western philosophy or the concepts of freedom and nature in Eastern philosophy, AI and Crypto, as two major hotspots today, have profound connections with traditional philosophical thoughts. Western philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, and Leibniz support AI based on its potential for reason and wisdom, while figures like Voltaire and Nietzsche lean towards supporting the decentralized and anti-establishment characteristics of Crypto. Eastern philosophers like Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Zen Buddhism tend to support Crypto's freedom and naturalness, while Confucius and Wang Yangming may recognize AI's role in enhancing reason and wisdom.

Regardless, the development and application of AI and Crypto are the results of the intertwining of technological progress and philosophical reflection. The social changes and moral impacts they bring, within different cultural and philosophical contexts, are worthy of our in-depth exploration and reflection.

免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。