Philosophical Arena – AI, Ethics, and Human Freedom

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A STUDENT TO JOIN

THE EVENT WILL BE IN DANISH

Throughout the autumn, Studenterhuset will host a series of talks and discussion evenings under the name Philosophical Arena. Each event will explore philosophical, existential, and societal themes. The goal is not to win debates, but to exchange ideas and learn from one another. The evenings are curated by Martin Romulo from Applied Philosophy (AAU).

Philosophical Arena is a space for free thinking. The word philosophy literally means “love of knowledge.” And no matter what kind of knowledge it may be, knowing more can never be a bad thing. We, as human beings, learn from one another—through both progress and struggle. With Philosophical Arena, we want to show that the best way to grow is through open and honest dialogue, and that we can always become wiser together.

AI, Ethics, and Human Freedom

In the first edition of Philosophical Arena, we’ll discuss how artificial intelligence has influenced—and might continue to shape—the future of humanity, as well as the ethical implications that come with it. Taking AI technology and chatbots as a starting point, we’ll ask whether technology is turning us into passive beings, or whether it simply helps us handle unnecessary, tedious tasks so that we can have more freedom and mental space.

The American academic, author, and inventor Erik Brynjolfsson has argued that AI could help humanity eliminate poverty and disease, and provide quality education for all on a global scale. On the other hand, philosopher of technology Shannon Vallor believes that AI undermines our role as responsible, free-thinking beings.

In this edition of Philosophical Arena, we’ll explore both perspectives—perhaps even form new ones—and hopefully leave a little wiser.