The Philosophy and Theology of Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Mustafa Azizi

Abstract

One of the prominent topics in scientific discourse today is the philosophy of artificial intelligence (AI). Those with a philosophical mindset, who are accustomed to philosophical reflections, engage in the philosophical contemplations about the roots, principles, epistemic and behavioral implications, challenges, and both positive and negative aspects of any advanced technology they encounter. AI is no exception to this rule, having gained widespread attention across various segments of society, including intellectuals, inventors, university students, and the general public. AI has two fundamental dimensions: The technical dimension focuses either on the computational and algorithmic aspects of AI or on simulating the brain›s structure and human neural networks. The cognitive and philosophical dimension explores the philosophical foundations of AI and addresses questions regarding the challenges of AI to religion and the beliefs of religious individuals. Philosophically, AI relies on specific theories in the philosophy of mind, particularly functionalism and behaviorism. The creators of AI have drawn inspiration from these two prominent theories. Understanding these philosophical principles enables us to comprehend the true nature of AI and the tasks it can perform. This study aims to shed light on the general concept of intelligence and, more specifically, artificial intelligence and its various types. It also seeks to analyze the philosophical principles underlying AI and answer questions related to the theology of artificial intelligence.

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)