Philosophy and related topics

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Philosophy and related topics

Philosophy

Philosophy, which has developed over many cultures and eras from ancient Greece and other ancient civilizations to the present day, is a branch of study that examines in depth fundamental questions of human knowledge, existence, truth, ethics, and meaning, and seeks to elucidate them rationally through logical analysis and argumentation.

Philosophy encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including.

• Metaphysics: the study of the fundamental nature of being or the essence of reality. It will be a study of the fundamental principles behind reality and the underlying structure of existence.
• Theory of Knowledge: the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and the conditions of truth. It focuses on issues of knowledge acquisition and justification.
  Ethics: the study of moral and ethical principles. It explores the criteria of right and wrong and the justification of human conduct.
• Social Philosophy: examines society and human relations, dealing with issues such as political philosophy, human rights, and justice.
• Philosophy of Mind: Studies the nature and origin of mind and consciousness. It considers issues such as the self, self-consciousness, and emotions.
• Logic: The study of the nature and methods of logic and argumentation. It explores logically correct methods of reasoning and argumentation.
• Metaphysics: deals with the study of phenomena and the phenomenal world, based on scientific and empirical methods.

Philosophy is a discipline that emphasizes methodology and logical analysis to delve into questions, and it becomes a study that deeply examines human thought and knowledge and pursues insights into abstract concepts and complex questions. It is also closely related to other disciplines such as religion, science, ethics, political science, and psychology.

Below we discuss various topics related to these philosophies.

Topics

Philosophy and its relation to AI technology and science

The Universal Computer From Leibniz to Turing

The Universal Computer From Leibniz to Turing. The development of the concept of the ‘universal computer’ has been shaped by a growing understanding of mankind’s computational capabilities and the accumulation of ground-breaking ideas on the path to its realisation. This process has been driven by a number of thinkers and mathematicians, from Leibniz (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz) to Turing (Alan Turing). Here I will discuss the process of those ideas based on the path from the universal computer Leibniz to Turing.

Free will, AI technology and Zhuangzi’s freedom

Free will, AI technology and Zhuangzi’s freedom. When the soft deterministic idea of free will is considered in terms of the use of artificial intelligence technology, it is possible to derive options that machines can ‘do otherwise as well’ beyond the possible human options, and among these, not simply algorithms that can also be realised by machines, but ‘causal reasoning and considerations towards the realisation of strong AI’. If problems can be solved with algorithms based on deep imagination and models based on that imagination, as described in ‘Considerations for causal reasoning and strong AI’, then humans could play a role that machines cannot play.

Considering Hegel’s phenomenology of the psyche and its application to AI technology

Considering Hegel’s phenomenology of the psyche and its application to AI technology. Consider Hegel’s gradual development process of human consciousness and knowledge from the perspective of applying it to AI learning and development. Specifically, the idea of a gradual process by which AI advances in self-awareness and self-improvement, and the approach of designing and developing AI while interpreting the relationship between AI and humans in human society from a philosophical perspective are considered.

Structuralism and Behind Structure: Meta-Information and AI Technology

Structuralism and Behind Structure: Meta-Information and AI Technology. Structuralism is a theory of philosophy and social science based on the idea that human thought and culture are formed by “structure,” and was developed mainly in linguistics, philosophy, anthropology, and literary theory in the early to mid 20th century. Utilizing the perspectives of structuralism and meta-information is expected to provide deeper insights into the “invisible structure” behind information flows and data, and to provide hints for considering the future of digital society.

Emotion Recognition, Buddhist Philosophy, and AI

Emotion Recognition, Buddhist Philosophy, and AI. In this article, I would like to discuss the history of emotion recognition and its relevance to Buddhist philosophy and artificial intelligence technology.

Deconstruction and graph neural networks

Deconstruction and graph neural networks. In philosophy, ideas have been presented in response to dynamic frame changes. One of them would be what is called poststructuralism. Post-structuralism recognises dynamic elements as differences that could not be seen in static pattern recognition, and by considering changes in patterns, deviations from patterns and deviations from patterns as problems, it discusses the dynamically changing world and tries to describe something like human creativity. This approach is similar to the world of graph neural networks in terms of artificial intelligence technology. In graph neural networks, embeddings are not only the characteristics of the network itself, but also incorporate the topology of the relationships with other entities to which they are connected, which are the characteristics of the network itself.

Pragmatism and the Knowledge Graph

Pragmatism and the Knowledge Graph. Pragmatism is a word derived from the Greek word ‘pragma’, meaning ‘action’ or ‘practice’, and is the idea that the truth of things should be judged by the results of action, not by theory or belief. The knowledge graph is a useful technique in terms of the accumulation and utilisation of experience, and has value in a variety of practical settings. A pragmatist approach in pragmatism could be used to elucidate the structure of knowledge and understanding using knowledge graphs and help promote practical use and understanding of meaning.

Human creativity and AI symbiosis – unconscious and memory

Human creativity and AI symbiosis – unconscious and memory. Behavioural economics, described in “The economy is driven by ’emotions'”, is one of the current trends in modern psychology, which focuses on irrational thoughts and behaviours and tries to reveal the common laws of irrationality, in contrast to conventional economics based on rational human activities. Two systems are envisaged in our minds, one being a quick, automatic, unintentional and unconscious system, such as intuitive judgement, and the other being a deliberate and conscious system, such as logical judgement, which is time-consuming but controllable. AI technology, which is also described in this blog, aims to take the rational decision-making of System 2 to the extreme instead of humans, and IA, which is also described in “Overview of Intelligence Augmentation (IA) and its application examples”, is an approach to how to connect the useful parts of System 1 and System 2. The IA described in “Overview of IA (Intelligence Augmentation) and its application examples” can be said to be an approach to how to connect the useful parts of System 1 with System 2.

Human creativity and AI symbiosis – unconsciousness and priming

Human creativity and AI symbiosis – unconsciousness and priming. Priming is also an interesting concept in the field of AI, and there is active research into using the concept of priming to improve human-AI interactions. For example, in AI-based experience (UX) design, when a user performs a specific task, an AI assistant can more accurately understand the user’s intentions and present relevant information and context in advance, so that subsequent operations can proceed smoothly, such as Priming can be considered.

Basic and Introductory Philosophy

On “thinking”

On “thinking”. From “NHK Publishing Learning Basics – The Thinking Classroom: An Introduction to Philosophy for Adults”. In this book, thinking is discussed based on Descartes’ writings.

What is meaning? Introduction to Philosophy

What is meaning? Introduction to Philosophy. Based on Kazuhisa Todayama’s “Introduction to Philosophy. What is meaning? and what is the meaning?

The Socratic Apology and the Purpose of Philosophy

The Socratic Apology and the Purpose of Philosophy. Socrates’ Apology” is the account of Socrates, who was accused of “corrupting the young and not believing in God,” and how he appealed to people who had no idea why he had engaged in philosophical dialogues and why philosophy was important. This work has become “the prototype of the image of what it means to philosophize” for Europeans. It is an invitation to philosophy.

From the Special Lecture “Socrates’ Defense” What is Philosophy?

From the Special Lecture “Socrates’ Defense” What is Philosophy?. Philosophy is the English word “philosophy” and the Greek word “philosophia”. Philo” means “love” and “sophy (sophia)” means “wisdom. The literal translation is “Aichi,” meaning “the activity of loving knowledge. It began in ancient Greece, was handed down to Rome, and developed especially in modern Europe from the 17th century onward.

One of the definitions of this philosophy is “the activity of dialogue (discussion),” and there are two rules for this dialogue (discussion). The first is to argue with evidence, and the second is to consider the root of the problem.

Special Lecture “The Purpose of Philosophy” from “Socrates in Defense”

Special Lecture “The Purpose of Philosophy” from “Socrates in Defense”. In philosophy, we think about clarifying and sharing “what is good and why it is good” in dialogue with others. In order to come to a common understanding, it is important to ask questions. Specific steps include giving examples, ascertaining meaning, considering common elements, and thinking about the reasons why something is valuable.

From the Special Lecture “Socrates’ Defense,” “The Significance of Dialogue”

From the Special Lecture “Socrates’ Defense,” “The Significance of Dialogue”. In this section, I will discuss the significance of dialogue. Philosophy is not just about putting on a difficult face and thinking “this or that,” but “Socrates’ Defense” conveys the importance of dialogue. In order to create a common understanding in order to engage in dialogue, it is important to ask questions, and it is important to have a phenomenological perspective on how to ask questions so that each person can think based on his or her own experience, and it is also important to ask how to find a common answer (or whether it is okay to have a variety of answers). It is also important to consider how we can come up with a common answer (or whether there should be a variety of answers).

Eastern Philosophy and Thought

Free will, AI technology and Zhuangzi’s freedom

Free will, AI technology and Zhuangzi’s freedom. When the soft deterministic idea of free will is considered in terms of the use of artificial intelligence technology, it is possible to derive options that machines can ‘do otherwise as well’ beyond the possible human options, and among these, not simply algorithms that can also be realised by machines, but ‘causal reasoning and considerations towards the realisation of strong AI’. If problems can be solved with algorithms based on deep imagination and models based on that imagination, as described in ‘Considerations for causal reasoning and strong AI’, then humans could play a role that machines cannot play.

Kitaro Nishida’s “Study of the Good”

Kitaro Nishida’s “Study of the Good”. Kitaro Nishida, active in the early 20th century, became the first Japanese philosopher to focus on ethics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of mind. Nishida’s study of the good occupied an important place in Japanese philosophy. Nishida’s conception of the good has become an attempt to integrate Buddhist thought and Western philosophy from a more fundamental point, based on modern philosophy.

Well-being and the philosophy of Takahiro Nakajima

Well-being and the philosophy of Takahiro Nakajima. In recent years, we often hear the word ‘wellbeing’. The term does not merely refer to a state of being free from disease or unhappiness, but also to a more positive sense of fulfilment, satisfaction and self-realisation. Takahiro Nakajima re-evaluates Confucian and Taoist philosophy from a modern perspective and attempts to clarify the goodness and happiness in which people live happily, particularly through a Chinese philosophical approach to the theme of ‘evil’.

Living Like Water: The Path at the Root of Lao Tzu’s Thought

Living Like Water: The Path at the Root of Lao Tzu’s Thought. The ancient Chinese book of thought “Laozi” was written by a man named Laozi, but his career is shrouded in mystery, so much so that there are theories that question whether this man actually existed.

Causality, Zen, and Philosophy

Causality, Zen, and Philosophy. Although causation, Zen, and philosophy are concepts from different realms and related to different cultures and disciplines, they can find new perspectives in each other.

Alain’s Theory of Happiness and Zen Awareness

Alain’s Theory of Happiness and Zen Awareness. ‘Alain’ is the pen name of the French philosopher Emile-Auguste Chartier (1868 – 1951), whose book The Theory of Happiness will be known as a collection of essays offering insights and advice on human happiness. In the words of Alan in this Theory of Happiness, “Pessimism belongs to the mood, optimism to the will”. A happy way of life can also be seen as a Zen world.

Zen and Buddha Bot by Artificial Incompetence

Zen and Buddha Bot by Artificial Incompetence. An introduction to early dialogue engines (artificial incompetence) that do not understand the meaning of Eliza’s lineage, and an analysis of the relationship between the meaning of words and dialogue through an introduction to Wittgenstein’s philosophy of logic, James Joyce’s meta-literature, and the Ten Ox Diagrams leading to Zen enlightenment and Zen questions and answers, as well as an introduction to the recently developed BERT-based BuddhaBot.

Western Philosophy and Thought

Considering Hegel’s phenomenology of the psyche and its application to AI technology

Considering Hegel’s phenomenology of the psyche and its application to AI technology. Consider Hegel’s gradual development process of human consciousness and knowledge from the perspective of applying it to AI learning and development. Specifically, the idea of a gradual process by which AI advances in self-awareness and self-improvement, and the approach of designing and developing AI while interpreting the relationship between AI and humans in human society from a philosophical perspective are considered.

The Self-Reflections of Marcus Aurelius

The Self-Reflections of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was an ancient Roman philosopher and emperor and one of the last great masters of Stoic philosophy, best known for his book Self-Reflections. His philosophy focused on self-discipline, ethics, introspection, self-control, and moral self-improvement, and he argued that the practice of philosophy was an important means of finding meaning in life. His philosophy has been particularly influential in the field of spirituality and is often cited in the fields of self-help and mindfulness.

Causes and Correlations

Causes and Correlations. Causality and correlation are important concepts in statistics and scientific research and are often confused. However, they are distinct concepts.

Public and Private – The Difficulty of Defining Public

Public and Private – The Difficulty of Defining Public. Ryotaro Shiba’s “Kaido yuku Taiwan Kikki” (Travels in Taipei) describes the bumpy sidewalks in Taipei as the result of the “private” nature of each store behind the sidewalks prevailing over the public nature of the sidewalks, with the stores raising or leaving the sidewalks in front of their stores for their own convenience, making the streets bumpy.

Possible Worlds, Logic, Probability, and Artificial Intelligence

Possible Worlds, Logic, Probability, and Artificial Intelligence. The idea of possible worlds (Possible Worlds) is a concept used primarily in the fields of philosophy and logic, and refers to a possible world that is different from the real world. This is to say that it is a world in which different elements and events may unfold in different ways, unconstrained by physical constraints or laws.

Probability Theory (Probability Theory), on the other hand, is a field of mathematics that deals with uncertainty and randomness and provides a framework for predicting the probability of events occurring and their outcomes. From this perspective, probability theory not only evaluates the probability of events in the real world, but also considers the probability of events in the possible world.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is a generic term for technologies that enable computer systems to perform intelligent tasks, which can be divided into subfields such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. AI is the use of probability theory and statistical methods The main purpose of AI is to analyze real-world events and data, and to make predictions and decisions by utilizing probability theory and statistical methods.

The simulation hypothesis and classical and non-classical logic

The simulation hypothesis and classical and non-classical logic. In THE UNIVERSE IN A BOX, the ‘Simulation Hypothesis’ describes the possibility that everything, including our own bodies and minds, is inside a computer. There are several approaches to thinking about whether where we are now is real or simulated. One is the classical logic approach and the other is the non-classical logic approach.

Intersection of Philosophy with Society, Literature, and Religion

Philosophy, Social Movements and IT

Philosophy, Social Movements and IT. Philosophy is an approach to deep contemplation and theoretical reflection on a variety of questions. Philosophy has played an important role in transforming society by fostering logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ethical judgment. Hiroki Azuma, a contemporary Japanese philosopher, has stated that one such movement by philosophy may be the evolution of modern IT.

The world is made of relations – Carlo Rovelli’s quantum theory and the imperial web

The world is made of relations – Carlo Rovelli’s quantum theory and the imperial web. Carlo Rovelli’s The World is Made of Relations (original title: *Helgoland*) presents a ‘relational interpretation’ of quantum mechanics and extends them to the origins of our world. This perspective of interpreting the world as a dynamic field of interaction can be applied to AI technology as follows.

Autumn Reading and Literary History

Autumn Reading and Literary History. A Little History of Literature for Young Readers at Yale University, written by British author and literary scholar John Sutherland, is aimed at young readers and literary novices who are beginning to take an interest in literature. The book provides a clear introduction to the history of literature, its major authors and their works. In this issue, I would like to discuss some of the topics picked up from the book.

Christianity, the Bible and Related Books

Christianity, the Bible and Related Books. Christianity arose out of the Jewish tradition and the culture of the Roman Empire, beginning in the first century A.D., and became a religion with its religious beliefs and teachings centered on Jesus Christ. The central belief of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of mankind, and Christians believe that they obtain salvation from sin through His death and resurrection.

This section includes the Old Testament, the New Testament, Augustine’s Confessions, and other older books, as well as Christian books published in recent years.

Well-being and the philosophy of Takahiro Nakajima

Well-being and the philosophy of Takahiro Nakajima. In recent years, we often hear the word ‘wellbeing’. The term does not merely refer to a state of being free from disease or unhappiness, but also to a more positive sense of fulfilment, satisfaction and self-realisation. Takahiro Nakajima re-evaluates Confucian and Taoist philosophy from a modern perspective and attempts to clarify the goodness and happiness in which people live happily, particularly through a Chinese philosophical approach to the theme of ‘evil’.

Cognitive Science, Thinking and Logic

Invitation to Cognitive Science Reading Note

Invitation to Cognitive Science Reading Note. Cognitive science will be the discipline that studies cognitive processes such as human perception, thinking, language, learning, memory, and decision making. Cognitive science is located at the intersection of diverse disciplines and integrates knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, philosophy, linguistics, and artificial intelligence studies.

By elucidating human cognitive processes, cognitive science aims to understand the mechanisms of perception and thought, and to develop theories about human behavior, decision-making, and language acquisition and processing. The results of cognitive science research also play an important role in examining the differences and similarities between human and machine intelligence.

Possible Worlds, Logic, Probability, and Artificial Intelligence

Possible Worlds, Logic, Probability, and Artificial Intelligence. The idea of possible worlds (Possible Worlds) is a concept used primarily in the fields of philosophy and logic, and refers to a possible world that is different from the real world. This is to say that it is a world in which different elements and events may unfold in different ways, unconstrained by physical constraints or laws.

Probability Theory (Probability Theory), on the other hand, is a field of mathematics that deals with uncertainty and randomness and provides a framework for predicting the probability of events occurring and their outcomes. From this perspective, probability theory not only evaluates the probability of events in the real world, but also considers the probability of events in the possible world.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is a generic term for technologies that enable computer systems to perform intelligent tasks, which can be divided into subfields such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. AI is the use of probability theory and statistical methods The main purpose of AI is to analyze real-world events and data, and to make predictions and decisions by utilizing probability theory and statistical methods.

The simulation hypothesis and classical and non-classical logic

The simulation hypothesis and classical and non-classical logic. In THE UNIVERSE IN A BOX, the ‘Simulation Hypothesis’ describes the possibility that everything, including our own bodies and minds, is inside a computer. There are several approaches to thinking about whether where we are now is real or simulated. One is the classical logic approach and the other is the non-classical logic approach.

Communication

Communication. Communication refers to the process or method by which people exchange information, opinions, and feelings and understand each other using various methods, including words, gestures, facial expressions, written words, and nonverbal means. In this article, I will base my description on Michael Ende’s MoMo commentary written by Toshio Kawai, a well-known clinical psychologist.