The Ghost in the Machine: Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence in Pop Culture

151A

Saturday September 8, 2018 - 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm


As technology advances rapidly, the idea that non-organic beings—machines—could, one day, be conscious, has captivated storytellers and audiences alike. This panel will explore the philosophical implications of various incarnations of artificial intelligence in popular culture. What would it take for a non-organic machine to be conscious? If a machine were conscious, how would we be able to tell? Under what conditions, if any, do we have moral obligations to machines? If machines were to achieve consciousness, what implications would that have for the way society is structured? Under what conditions would it be appropriate for us to understand machines as beings with rights? We’ll look at these ideas as they arise in pop culture phenomena like Westworld, Lost in Space, Ex Machina, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Dr. Rachel Robison-Greene and Dr. Richard Greene will present relevant ideas from the history of philosophical thought, but will also leave time for the audience to share their philosophical reflections on these topics.


Guests