Machine Minds: Philosophy of AI | Humanities & Social Sciences

Machine Minds: Philosophy of AI

Course Number: 
HSL657
LTP structure: 
3-0-0
Discipline: 
Philosophy
Credit: 
3.0

Pre-requisite

N/A

Course Objective

· Identify the philosophical grounds of concepts and approaches in the study of cognition and intelligent behavior.
· Demonstrate epistemological challenges involved in evaluating whether machines can have thought and other mental phenomena.
· Discuss notions related to computation, representation and meaning to bring out nuances in philosophical arguments about the nature and scope of artificial intelligence.
· Explain issues related to the moral status of AI and designing learning machines with ethical sensitivity.
· Write analytical essays that flesh out philosophical ideas underlying current debates in AI

Course Content

This course offers a set of philosophical perspectives to the question of how we should understand minds and intelligent behaviour. Drawing from classical debates and thought experiments in philosophy, the course explores a series of inquiries central to the AI paradigm. The course will also delve into the ethical issues about AI and consider the possibility and desirability of machine ethics. Questions about whether machines can become autonomous agents in any significant sense and what implications it has for attributing accountability are taken up.

The information provided here may not be updated. Please check UG/PG section for updated course offering data.