Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
This course explores the philosophical questions and dilemmas raised by contemporary research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, focusing on issues often overlooked in science and technology courses. Students will engage with questions such as whether AI systems can develop consciousness, what kind of knowledge computer simulations can provide, how robotic models of life forms can be used in life sciences, and what kind of explanations explainable AI systems should offer. Ethical considerations will also be examined, including how to trust and evaluate AI and robotic behavior and assign responsibility for their actions. The course will be highly interactive, featuring philosophical debates and guest lectures from leading experts in AI, robotics, epistemology, and ethics. It is designed for doctoral students from non-philosophical fields, encouraging them to critically engage with the intersection of technology, philosophy, and ethics.
- ECTS: 1
- Total hours: 12
- Language: English
- Mode of participation: Highly interactive lessons. Online participation is possible upon request.
- Course code: INV.TRSVL.1.2
- Category: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION BASIC SKILLS
Prerequisites
None. The course is open to PhD students from all fields; no background in philosophy is required.
How To Apply
Please send an email to: dottorati@unimib.it
OPENING of registrations: to be defined
CLOSING of registrations: to be defined
Contemporary research in artificial intelligence (AI) raises a multitude of unique philosophical questions and dilemmas. While these issues are urgent and pressing, they are often overlooked or only superficially addressed in science and technology courses.
For example, can AI systems have a mind and develop consciousness? What does it mean for AI systems to learn? What data do AI systems use, and how do they use it, to generate predictive models? What kind of knowledge can predictive models provide about the world, and how can this knowledge be justified? What kind of explanations should explainable AI systems provide? How can we trust AI systems? How can we ethically evaluate their behaviour and assign responsibility for their actions?
These questions pertain to different branches of philosophy, and are at the centre of public debate on AI. This course will address these issues and others that, in various ways, revolve around the question of whether AI systems can have a mind. The highly interactive lessons are intended for doctoral students from fields other than philosophy who do not have a philosophical background.
More information about the bibliography will be soon available...
To be defined
Date TBA
Can machines have a mind?
Lecturer: Prof. Edoardo Datteri (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Date TBA
Machines don't have a mind
Lecturer: Prof. Daniela Besozzi (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Date TBA
Mind machines even if they don't have a mind
Lecturer: Dr. Chiara Gallese (University of Tilburg)
Date TBA
When machines pretend they do have a mind
Lecturer: Prof. Marco S. Nobile (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)
The assessment will be based on a short reflective text (one page at most) written after the last lesson. In this text, students will be asked to reflect on what they have learnt during the course.
4 - Quality Education
More information about the objectives will be soon available...
Professors: Daniela Besozzi, Edoardo Datteri, Chiara Gallese, Marco Salvatore Nobile
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it