Blurring of the Human and the Artificial: A Conceptual Clarification

Abstract

Due to certain progress made in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related fields, there is a common agreement that we are facing a blurring of the human and the artificial. This presentation will argue that this agreement is rather one that pertains to anthropomorphic notations when dealing with computers and computer-based devices, as opposed to one that is justified by engineering results. In fact, the language used to describe mechanic functions hides what ontologically occurs, and how the autonomy of humans can be endangered. The clarification intended here uses the philosophical distinction between agents and patients and translates it into the systems theoretical distinction between self-organising systems and non-self-organising entities.

Keywords

• AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• ontology
• self-organisation
• Oswald Wiener
• man–machine models
• physical systems