MAKING INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIAL.

The article explores the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) through the lens of René Descartes' ideas about mechanistic thought and the nature of intelligence. It recounts a historical anecdote about Descartes creating an automaton resembling his deceased daughter, which serves as a metaphor for his belief that both animals and humans could be understood as complex machines. The text contrasts Descartes' views with those of contemporaries like Thomas Hobbes, who dismissed the need for an immaterial soul, suggesting that human intelligence could be replicated mechanically. The author argues that the rise of AI reflects a continuation of Descartes' mechanistic philosophy, raising concerns about the reduction of human intelligence to mere functionality and the potential loss of deeper understanding and meaning in human interactions. The discussion emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on the relationship between language, truth, and being in the context of advancing technology. [Extracted from the article]