From Deep Learning to Rational Machines: What the History of Philosophy Can Teach Us about the Future of Artificial Intelligence

This book explores the philosophical implications of deep learning and how it connects to classic works in empiricist philosophy of mind. It demonstrates how recent breakthroughs in deep learning can realize some of the ambitious ideas about psychological faculties proposed by philosophers such as Aristotle, Ibn Sina, John Locke, David Hume, William James, and Sophie de Grouchy. This interdisciplinary connection can benefit both philosophy and computer science by providing insights and inspiration for future research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 488 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

This book offers a comprehensive framework for delving into fundamental philosophical inquiries surrounding the utilization of deep artificial neural networks (deep learning) in the pursuit of artificial intelligence. Specifically, it establishes a connection between recent advancements and classic works in empiricist philosophy of mind, shedding light on the origins of abstract knowledge. In recent evaluations of deep learning's potential, scientists have drawn upon historical figures from the philosophical debate between nativism and empiricism, which centers around the origins of abstract knowledge. These empiricists, who were faculty psychologists, contended that the extraction of abstract knowledge from experience necessitates the active involvement of psychological faculties such as perception, memory, imagination, attention, and empathy. This book elucidates how recent deep learning breakthroughs have actualized some of the most ambitious ideas articulated by philosophers like Aristotle, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), John Locke, David Hume, William James, and Sophie de Grouchy. By showcasing the practical applications of this interdisciplinary connection, it demonstrates how philosophy and computer science can mutually benefit. Computer scientists can continue to explore the rich history of philosophy for innovative ideas and aspirational targets to achieve, while philosophers can witness the realization of some of the historical empiricists' most audacious speculations within specific computational systems.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 216 x 151 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197653302