Morphing Intelligence: From IQ Measurement to Artificial Brains

Intelligence is the concept that blurs the boundaries between natural and artificial, bridging the human brain and the cybernetic world of AI. Catherine Malabou's book explores the modern metamorphoses of intelligence, seeking to understand how neurobiological and neurotechnological advances have transformed our view. She concludes that a dialogue between human and cybernetic intelligence offers the best means to build a democratic future.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 12 February 2019
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The concept of intelligence is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses both the natural and artificial realms. It blurs the boundaries between the human brain and the cybernetic world of AI, highlighting the interconnectedness of these two domains. In this book, acclaimed philosopher Catherine Malabou takes a novel approach to understanding intelligence, emphasizing the intricate network of relationships between biological, technological, and symbolic aspects.

Malabou traces the modern metamorphoses of intelligence, exploring how neurobiological and neurotechnological advances have reshaped our understanding of the human mind. She examines three crucial developments: the notion of intelligence as an empirical, genetically based quality measurable through standardized tests; the shift towards the epigenetic paradigm, which emphasizes neural plasticity; and the emergence of artificial intelligence, which holds the potential to simulate, replicate, and even surpass the workings of the brain.

Through her analysis, Malabou argues that a dialogue between human and cybernetic intelligence offers the best, if not the only, means to build a democratic future. She challenges the traditional dichotomy between mind and machine, suggesting that intelligence can be understood as a hybrid entity that emerges from the interplay between these two realms. Malabou emphasizes the importance of recognizing the ethical and social implications of these developments, as they have the potential to shape our world in profound ways.

Morphing Intelligence is a groundbreaking exploration of our evolving notions of intelligence and their far-reaching philosophical and political implications. It provides a critical analysis of the porous border between symbolic and biological life, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in the age of technological advancements. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of philosophy, neuroscience, and technology, as it offers a thought-provoking and insightful perspective on the future of human intelligence.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 221 x 174 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231187367