Metabasis N. 38
in edizione digitale
peer review
Ogni saggio della rivista viene valutato da due referees in forma anonima e i loro commenti inviati all’autore.
Immaginari della tecnoscienza 1:
L’intelligenza artificiale
Novembre 2024 - Anno XIX - Numero 38
Riflessioni politiche
Power seeking: a parallel between the human quest for power and artificial intelligence.
Paolo Bellini, Alessandro Piccioni, G. Roberto Marseglia
DOI: 10.7413/18281567273
In the field of human behavior, the concept of power seeking has been the subject of in-depth studies, since it is a fundamental anthropological aspect, deeply rooted at a psychological and social level. The power seeking has marked the course of human history, both in the field of personal relationships and in determining the rise and fall of civilizations. It is easy to see how power is not an object but a connection between individuals, groups and/or political systems that qualifies first of all as a de facto relationship, defined by the gregarious nature of mankind.
Abstract
This article explores the concept of power-seeking behavior in humans and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. It delves into the importance of aligning AI systems with human values and goals, which has garnered significant attention in relation to the rapid progress made in recent decades. The paper discusses the role of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in various fields, highlighting their potential and associated risks. It also examines the complexity of AI design and programming in relation to possible mimetic behaviors of human activity inherent in power and its distribution. The paper also discusses the intersection between power-seeking behavior and AI alignment, emphasizing the importance of human involvement in the machine learning process. The document concludes by emphasizing the need to align AI systems with human values and goals, in order to limit, as far as possible, the risks associated with a substantial perversion of the foundations on which free societies stand.
La democrazia in pericolo: caratteri salienti e influenza politica del tecnopopulismo.
Michele Olzi
DOI: 10.7413/18281567267
A distanza di quattro anni dalla sua pubblicazione, lo studio Technopopulism – incentrato sull’omonimo fenomeno – ad opera di Carlo Invernizzi Accetti e Christopher J. Bickerton rimane d’incredibile attualità non solo per gli eventi politici a cui assistiamo, ma per gli interrogativi di carattere teorico-politico su cui si focalizza. Tra le domande più significanti – sia per l’ambito politologico che per quello filosofico-politico – che caratterizzano l’incipit di questo volume troviamo il tremendamente attuale: “What’s wrong with contemporary democracy?”
Abstract
Recent debates in Political Theory focused on different (definitions and) aspects of the technopopulist phenomenon (i.e. political actors, discursive ideologies, mode of governance, relationship between politicians and their policies, connection between technology and politics, mediatic influence of politico-discursive strategies etc.) In detail, technopopulist phenomenon exerts a strong influence on the political sphere of society. More exactly, it strongly influences those political dynamics related to consensus and representativity. This paper aims to consider those aspects of this phenomenon that might represent a threat to these political dynamics in contemporary democracies.
Tecnologia, carne e potere: il corpo come territorio.
Raffaella Sabra Palmisano
DOI: 10.7413/18281567274
Dalla prima metà del Novecento ad oggi l’interesse per il domandare sul corpo risulta in costante espansione. Gli studi di maggior diffusione sul tema sembrano dovere il loro successo alla ingente quantità di finanziamenti alla ricerca su aree di studio dominanti quali i genders e queer studies, il transumanesimo, il femminismo intersezionale, la biopolitica, il postumanesimo, il rapporto tra etica e IA, et similia. Tali movimenti di pensiero hanno rimesso fortemente in discussione il concetto di corpo e questo ha avuto, ha e continuerà ad avere un innegabile impatto in ambito politico, giuridico, tecnologico, economico ed etico.
Abstract
The relationship between the body and social, political, religious and economic structures has always been one of the focal points of philosophy, but in recent decades interest in the body has once again become a central theme in philosophical debate. This renewed interest seems to be linked to a number of factors such as technological transformations and the ethical challenges associated with them, as well as the debate raised by the various feminist movements, gender identity issues, etc. The article sets out to analyse the body as a political and economic territory, asking how powers and relational structures construct and constitute it, colonising and/or liberating it. In this context, the body emerges as a fundamental site of political reflection, which deserves to be investigated in its multiple aspects.
Politicamente corretto e social media: uno spettro censorio?
Maria Rosaria Vitale
DOI: 10.7413/18281567266
‘Al giorno d’oggi non si può più dire nulla’. Questa è un’affermazione che è divenuta alquanto frequente anche nei social media, quali spazi digitali che pongono condizioni di espressione e interconnessione per la propria utenza. Sembra, quindi, che un’impossibilità di esprimersi sia rivendicata, esprimendosi. A mio avviso, l’affermazione presenta due dimensioni: una temporale e una spaziale. Prima ci si poteva esprimere, adesso non più.
Abstract
This essay examines the concerns surrounding political correctness and its perceived impact on freedom of speech, particularly in social media contexts. It analyzes how algorithmic content moderation shapes this debate. Given the claim that ‘we cannot say anything anymore’, I investigate the possible implications of the persistent criticism directed against political correctness.
Orizzonti filosofici
Imaginaires magiques de la technoscience
Quentin Bazin
DOI: 10.7413/18281567268
Je voudrais dans cet article proposer deux idées. La première consiste à réintroduire un instant l'idée de magie, et de questionner son articulation avec la technologie. La seconde est une réflexion sur les paradigmes culturels (modernité, postmodernité, métamodernité) et les liens qu'on peut essayer de tisser avec des genres de science-fiction (space fantasy, cyberpunk, solarpunk).
Abstract
The concept of magic in science fiction has historically been associated with technology in a manner that diverges from its contemporary understanding. This incongruity is a crucial element in the analysis of science fiction worlds. This articulation facilitates the establishment of connections between diverse genres of science fiction, including space fantasy, cyberpunk, and solarpunk, and our contemporary cultural paradigms of modernity, postmodernity, and metamodernity. This interdisciplinary approach fosters a deeper examination of the distinctive techno-scientific imaginary that characterizes our contemporary era, offering insights into the nuances of solarpunk futurism and its implications for our understanding of the present moment.
Dalla tirannia della tecnologia alla libertà della coscienza
Alessandra Bracci
DOI: 10.7413/18281567272
All'inizio del terzo millennio l'impatto delle nuove tecnologie sta cambiando radicalmente la struttura della società, ridefinendo il modo in cui viviamo ed interagiamo. Siamo pronti a gestire questa transizione? Come direbbe Edward Wilson – il padre della sociobiologia – il vero problema dell'umanità è che abbiamo emozioni paleolitiche, istituzioni medioevali e tecnologia divina. Se l’essere umano credeva di poter dominare la Natura attraverso la tecnica, ora la situazione si è rovesciata: da “padrone” è diventato “servo” aprendosi a scenari distopici.
Abstract
Our Age is quite curious: on the one hand, ever more advanced science and technology give the sense of an illusory dominion over life; on the other hand, human being experiences an estrangement of his own subjectivity not to say alienation from all that is natural and vital. We live in a context in which we are led to think that we are like "machines", that our brains "work" like computers, that our bodies are like an assemblage of gears... As long as we do not understand that consciousness distinguishes us from technology, as long as we cannot grasp our archetypal nature, we can never find the solution to the problem, we can never tap into the Vital Intelligence "within us" since we are constantly dependent on the Artificial Intelligence "outside us". It is necessary to open up to a radical transformation of human consciousness, to break free from the old reductionist and mechanistic paradigms, toward aspects studied by the epistemology of Complexity Science to imagine and create a technology animated by an intention of quality aimed at enhancing the creativity and prosperity of human beings and the entire Web of Life.
Intelligence artificielle et langage vs. émotivité et langage humain.
Ruxandra Cesereanu
DOI: 10.7413/18281567271
Il n’y a pas si longtemps, j’ai effectué mon vingtième voyage documentaire au Mémorial des Victimes du Communisme et de la Résistance de Sighet, avec quarante-cinq étudiants du Département de Littérature de Cluj. Je fais cette introduction pour dire, en effet, que l’émotivité des jeunes qui ont participé à ce voyage documentaire était visible : ils ont été bouleversés par ce qu’ils ont vu, par les informations sur la souffrance et la violence, à propos de la façon dont les gens agissaient brutalement et sans scrupules sur d’autres personnes pendant les régimes dictatoriaux (d’extrême-gauche et d’extrême-droite). Les jeunes n’ont pas hésité à souligner cette émotivité, à la formuler, à la reconnaître, sans être entraînés, sans qu’on le leur demande.
Abstract
The language of artificial intelligence is instilled and created by humans, installed in the “body” of the AI – whether robots, computers or any other type of installation. It is a human language strategically simplified so that facilities can ingest the information. But as AI becomes more diverse and nuanced, the languages taught become more sophisticated, more nuanced. It is a logical approach, taking into account the competition in the field of extreme technologies, the rivalries with financial issues, but also cognitive ones.
L’“imagination manquante” dans l'interface cerveau-ordinateur: une analyse phénoménologique.
Ling Zi
DOI: 10.7413/18281567270
L’émergence de la technologie de l’interface cerveau-ordinateur (Brain-Computer Interface, BCI) marque une nouvelle avancée dans les technologies d’augmentation humaine, un retour profond de la technologie vers l’humain. Dans l’histoire de la civilisation humaine, la technologie a toujours joué un rôle crucial, passant par trois étapes successives: les “outils manuels”, les “machines modernes” et les “machines intelligentes informationnalisées”.
Abstract
BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) technology is transforming the relationship between the subject and technology by enabling direct interaction between neural activity and external devices. This shifts the understanding of subjectivity, perception, and imagination, which was once seen as an internal, autonomous faculty, and seems now shaped by the interaction between perception, action, and technology. By transferring some functions to external devices, BCI creates a form of “missing imagination”, reducing it to a capacity dependent on technology. Additionally, BCI modifies the body schema, blurring the boundaries between perception and imagination, making virtual actions as immediate and effective as embodied experiences. This raises concerns about the impact of representational models on non-representational intelligence, limiting creative freedom and imagination’s ability to function in preconceptual and practical contexts. A phenomenological analysis can offer insights into the philosophical implications of integrating technology into subjectivity and the challenges of alienation and “missing imagination”.
Percorsi tematici
Language and imagery in the interpretation of diagnostic images: theoretical perspectives and applications.
Ambra Benvenuto
DOI: 10.7413/18281567269
The revolution in diagnostic imaging that began with the discovery of X-rays lies in the possibility of observing the inside of the human body without operating surgically. Although the precision of the technologies involved in such procedures is ever increasing and the subject of continuous research, there are several human faculties inescapable in the formulation of diagnosis, for example, the use of imagery and communication through a specific language of what can be observed.
Abstract
In diagnostic imaging, imagery plays a crucial role in constructing meaning. Visual interpretation, influenced by personal expectations and mental conditions, helps identify significant signs, while communication of these findings necessitates a broadly comprehensible language. This paper explores how imagery and language contribute to the meaning of diagnostic images. The first section examines the evolution of diagnostic techniques like radiography and their connection to perception studies, highlighting how the brain interprets visual information considering expectations and imagination. The second part focuses on the interplay between text and images, showcasing technologies combining natural language processing, computer vision, and AI to redefine image interpretation. Experiments on image captions and interdisciplinary studies reveal advancements in creating clearer, more comprehensive imaging.
Il complesso rapporto tra automatismo digitale e protezione dei dati personali: il principio di non esclusività della decisione automatizzata.
Giulia Cesaro
DOI: 10.7413/18281567276
La disamina del rapporto tra automazione digitale e tutela dei dati personali implica la necessità, sul piano dell'inquadramento teorico-sistematico, di alcune considerazioni di carattere generale. In via preliminare, è opportuno chiarire il significato di termini che, per quanto apparentemente simili, sono, in realtà, profondamente diversi. In questa prospettiva, occorre distinguere tra privacy e protezione dei dati personali.
Abstract
Article 22 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enshrines the principle of non-exclusivity of automated decision-making. This provision is part of a broader framework aimed at protecting and safeguarding the individual's privacy, which underpins the entire regulatory structure established at the European Union level by the GDPR. The legislative provision seeks to prevent individuals from being harmed in their rights and freedoms using automated decisions: decisions made without any human intervention, relying solely on fully standardized algorithms. The current formulation of the provision raises questions about the practical effectiveness of this principle and the need for a revision that can address the new challenges posed by technological advancements.
More-than-human collaborations: performative image-making in contemporary biomedical imaging techniques.
Giulio Galimberti, Jonathan Kirn
DOI: 10.7413/18281567275
Human subjectivity is inextricably tied to the technosphere in which it exists. What it means to be human, which modes of self-understanding and action are available, depends on the technological situation in which subjectivity emerges. Based on this assumption, in the following essay we will offer a consideration of the functioning of contemporary biomedical image-making technologies, particularly their performance of self-understandings and subjectivity, as well as suggestions for a reconceptualization of subjectivity in accordance with it.
Abstract
Subjectivity is increasingly intertwined with technological apparatuses that influence processes of subjectification and change the possibilities of action available to the subject. Based on a performative understanding of biomedical image-making, we suggest that subjectivity emerges and acts as part of more-than-human collaborations. Consequently, we argue that subjectivity must be reframed as more-than-human subjectivity. In this paper, we offer such a reframing based on notions of distribution and composition, addressing both processes of subjectivation in collaboration with image-making techniques and subjectivity itself as emerging and enacted in more-than-human collaborations. We conclude on a tentative suggestion, how such a reconceptualized subjectivity is useful for the orientation within the contemporary and future technosphere.
Algorithms and the abuse of reason. Reflections from Friedrich A. Von Hayek’s theory of knowledge.
Antonio Masala
DOI: 10.7413/18281567287
The prediction that artificial intelligence (AI) will radically transform the global economy within a few years has become so widely accepted that it now seems a certainty. AI and the vast networks of data and analytics systems associated with it – decisional, predictive, generative algorithms, neural networks, robots, and artificial workers – are deeply transforming numerous facets of our lives, while at the same time raising new social, ethical, legal, and economic issues.
Abstract
This essay aims to address the question of whether algorithms, which underlie the operation of the Internet and artificial intelligence, have really changed the nature of the problem concerning the limits of human knowledge – an issue which Hayek had identified since his writings in the second half of the 1930s. Indeed, these are tools that have, and will increasingly have, an extraordinary and unprecedented ability to collect, aggregate, and manage information about individual preferences and desires, the existing supply and demand for goods and services, and so on. The question then posed by some is whether the price mechanism, understood as an indicator of the value of goods and individual preferences, and competition, understood as the process of discovering what does not yet exist, can be replaced by the use of increasingly sophisticated algorithms. The Hayekian theory of knowledge leads to a negative answer to this question.
Metabasis N. 38
in edizione digitale
peer review
Ogni saggio della rivista viene valutato da due referees in forma anonima e i loro commenti inviati all’autore.
