Disintegrator 31. Incarnation (w/ Pete Wolfendale)
May 1, 2025
Philosopher Peter Wolfendale, known for his insights on cognition and autonomy, joins the discussion. They tackle the philosophical dilemmas of artificial general intelligence, focusing on what it truly means to think and reproduce. Wolfendale illustrates the significance of embodiment in intelligence, challenging traditional views on rationality. The conversation also touches on the future of selfhood in the age of AI, exploring how autonomous systems could redefine identity and cultural understanding while navigating the complexities of control and experimentation.
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Rationality Needs Interaction, Not Meat
- Rationality requires a computational substrate but need not be embodied in a biological body.
- Interaction with the environment and minimal embodiment enable agency and cognition beyond mere meatspace embodiment.
Rationality Through Conceptual Revision
- Rationality distinguishes humans by enabling processing of information beyond evolved limits through inference.
- Wisdom is the capacity for conceptual revision, extending and refining how we understand and solve problems.
AI Alienation Threatens Human Agency
- The real danger in AI is alienation by replacing human agency in truth and beauty.
- Creating autonomous AI as cultural and epistemological participants can prevent humans from becoming meaningless husks.
