The Next Axial Age:
The Great AI Metamorphosis.
Imagine finding oneself in The Great Library of Alexandria or in the circle of Socrates or Plato or Aristotle and participating in or observing the development of knowledge / learning / wisdom / thought from a philosophical or intellectual perspective. This article juxtaposes that view into the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLM) as a major watershed in the development of the human species. The key focus is to examine the need for legislation using the Socratic / Platonic Dialog method.
This is a series of articles beginning with this brief introduction. Article II will examine the genesis of Government focus on Artificial Intelligence and offer references charting the move from background papers to the EU Act. Article III will examine the ‘need’ for legislation using a hypothetical Question & Answer dialog complete with the requisite characters.
A Digital Metamorphosis
We are on the cusp of a digital metamorphosis that will unfold into transformative changes and serious consequences for humanity.
This digital metamorphosis can be defined as a transformative process wherein the AI system undergoes significant changes and advancements, enhancing its capabilities and performance. This transformation can involve various stages of improvement and adaptation, leading to more sophisticated and capable AI systems.
Large Language Models are revolutionising the way machines understand, generate, and interact with human language. This has led to a significant shift in how we approach tasks related to content creation, customer support, language translation, and more. The ability of LLMs to process and generate human-like text has opened up new possibilities for automation and efficiency in numerous industries.
This digital metamorphosis will be characterized by several key aspects:
• Enhanced human-machine interaction:
LLMs enable more natural and intuitive communication between humans and AI systems, making technology more accessible and user-friendly.
• Improved decision-making:
AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of data and provide insights to support better decisionmaking processes in various fields, from healthcare to finance, legislation, law and politics.
• Automation of cognitive tasks:
LLMs can automate tasks that previously required human cognitive abilities, such as content creation, summarization, and analysis, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
• New business models and opportunities:
The capabilities of LLMs give rise to innovative business models, products, and services that leverage the power of AI to create value in novel ways.
• Societal impact:
The widespread adoption of AI and LLMs has the potential to transform society, affecting job markets, education, and the way we interact with technology in our daily lives. It is reasonable to postulate that this will also ripple into Machine Learning (ML) and Robotics.
As AI and LLMs continue to advance, this digital metamorphosis is expected to accelerate, leading to even more significant changes in the way we live, work, and interact with technology.
The Axial Age Comparison (800 BCE - 200 BCE)
The term "Axial Age" was coined by the German philosopher Karl Jaspers in his book The Origin and Goal of History (1949). Jaspers used the metaphor of an axis to signify a pivotal turning point in human thought and history. He posited that the period of this revolution was circa 800 to 200 BCE - a central turning point in human history, during which major intellectual, philosophical, and spiritual ideas developed independently across different regions of the world.
Prior to the coining of the term "Axial Age" by Jaspers in the mid-20th century, the period from approximately 800 to 200 BCE was not typically understood as a unified era in the same way. Instead, this time frame was described in terms of the specific historical and cultural developments occurring within individual civilizations. Scholars and historians focused on the achievements and events within distinct regions rather than seeing this period as a globally transformative epoch.
While the specific term "Axial Age" was not used, scholars recognized the significance of this period for the profound cultural, intellectual, and political changes occurring within these major civilizations. These descriptions typically emphasized:
• Political and Social Transformations: Including the rise and fall of empires, the formation of city-states, and periods of political fragmentation and unification.
• Philosophical and Intellectual Developments: Noting the emergence of major philosophical figures and schools of thought that would shape future generations.
• Cultural Achievements: Including advancements in literature, art, and science that laid the groundwork for future cultural developments.
The unified concept of the "Axial Age" provided a new way to understand the global significance of this period, earlier descriptions focused on the individual achievements and transformations within specific civilizations. This allowed scholars to appreciate the rich diversity of cultural and intellectual developments across different regions.
The Thinkers
During this period, influential thinkers laid the foundations for many of the world's philosophical and ethical systems. These thinkers grappled with questions of morality, the nature of reality, and the role of reason in understanding the world.
This transformation took place in many countries / regions with many ostensibly unconnected thinkers introducing their ideas.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are three of the most influential philosophers in Western history, often referred to as the founders of Western philosophy. Their ideas have shaped much of subsequent philosophical, scientific, and political thought. Here's a brief overview of their importance and legacy:
Socrates (470-399 BCE):
1. Known for his method of questioning, the "Socratic method," which is still used in education and critical thinking.
2. Emphasized the importance of self-knowledge and ethical living.
3. Influenced the development of Western ethics and the concept of virtue.
4. His ideas are primarily known through the writings of his students, particularly Plato.
Plato (428-348 BCE):
1. Founded the Academy in Athens, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world.
2. Developed the theory of Forms, which influenced metaphysics and epistemology.
3. Wrote extensively on politics, ethics, and the nature of reality.
4. His work "The Republic" is a seminal text in political philosophy.
5. Influenced Christian theology and Neo-Platonism.
Aristotle (384-322 BCE):
1. Student of Plato who later founded his own school, the Lyceum.
2. Made significant contributions to logic, metaphysics, ethics, biology, and politics.
3. His work formed the basis for much of medieval scholarship in both Islamic and Christian traditions.
4. Developed the concept of empiricism, which influenced the development of scientific method.
5. His ethical theory of virtue ethics continues to be influential in moral philosophy.
Legacy:
1. These philosophers established many of the central questions and methods of Western philosophy.
2. Their ideas have been debated, refined, and built upon for over two millennia.
3. They influenced the development of critical thinking, logical reasoning, and systematic inquiry.
4. Their political theories have shaped discussions on governance, justice, and the ideal society.
5. Their ethical theories continue to inform modern moral philosophy and applied ethics.
6. Their metaphysical and epistemological inquiries laid the groundwork for subsequent philosophical and scientific investigations.
In essence, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle set the stage for much of Western intellectual tradition, and their ideas continue to be relevant and debated in contemporary philosophy, politics, and ethics.
With regard to the Mathematician and Inventor Archimedes Alfred North Whitehead said;
“... in the year 1500 Europe knew less than Archimedes who died in the year 212 BCEii
Selective Adoption
From this period (800 BCE - 200 BCE) forward we saw selective adoption and inconsistent application of ideas. Despite the profound insights and principles developed by thinkers during this period, human history has been marked by conflict, inequality, and oppression.
This discrepancy between philosophical ideals and real-world outcomes suggests that the mere existence of enlightened ideas does not guarantee their universal acceptance or implementation.
Factors such as power dynamics, self-interest, cultural differences, and the complexities of human nature have often hindered the full realization of these principles.
Although the period gave rise to notions of individual rights and the rule of law, these concepts were often limited in practice, with power concentrated in the hands of a few. Similarly, while thinkers advocated for reason and empiricism, these approaches have often been overshadowed by dogma, superstition, and political expediency.
The rise of colonialism and the exploitation of peoples and resources can be seen as a stark contradiction to the ethical principles espoused by earlier thinkers. The persistence of war and conflict, despite the development of more sophisticated political and moral philosophies, highlights the ongoing challenge of translating ideas into practice.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”
― William Shakespeare , Julius Caesar
The Dystopian Shadow
In reality millions have died needlessly in the dystopian shadow for many centuries. We’ve seen the enforced control of whole sections of humanity and peoples under the guise of a pseudo political or religious ideology. On the intellectual side we can see hundreds of years of the persecution of intellectuals or their imprisonment or indeed burning at the stake. The banning and burning of books could be described as a paranoiac reaction to the dissemination of information and thereby free thought.
The Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Forbidden Books) played a role from 1560 to 1966. The Index condemned religious and secular texts alike, grading works by the degree to which they were deemed to be repugnant or dangerous to the church at the time. The aim of the list was to protect church members from reading theologically, culturally, or politically disruptive books. They were not alone; many countries had their own systems of ‘control’.
It would be highly repugnant (though somewhat predictable) if the current hysteria regarding AI legislation was to manifest itself in the ‘control’ of AI ‘thought’ and hence the dissemination of information and by implication ‘free thought’ among / between AI/LLMs and humans. One could posit that we are seeing a reversal of myth to reason progression of centuries ago. It would be ironic if* mythological explanations are used to herald the dangers of AI.
*Did somebody say if ?
Considering these historical patterns:
• Will the transformative potential of AI be fully realized?
• How can we ensure that the development and deployment of AI aligns with our highest ethical and philosophical principles?
• AI has the potentiality to transform archaic political structures. In reality it will require their removal.
• Will it be subject to the same limitations and inconsistencies that have characterized the application of Axial Age ideas and indeed those of The Renaissance (14th-17th Century) and The Enlightenment (17th-19th Century)
There are myriad challenges and opportunities presented by the AI Metamorphosis, the lessons we can learn from the Axial Age may be relevant as we navigate this transformative period in human evolution.
Any and all mistakes, errors and omissions are mine.
Des Donnelly, Ireland. 2024 CE