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The Wells School of Philosophy
Roll Call
28th November 2023, Hare Lane, 1000-1300 hrs:
Tutors:
Linda (L),
Steve (S)
Pupils:
John (J),
Patricia (P),
Alexis (A),
David (D),
Margie (M),
Viki (V),
Howard (H)
Apologies:
Julia (JA), Frank (FB), Colin (C)
Scribe:
Gavin (G)
The homework set
We agreed that the meeting on Tuesday 28th November would be the last of the 'term', and that we would use the meeting to reflect on topics covered since September.
As a reminder, we have discussed over the last few weeks:
- Aristotle's Ethics and potential implications of developing AI.
- The effect of developing AI on the nature of the human condition. Should AI development be encouraged or discouraged? If controlled, how and by whom?
- Sources of moral authority, for society and ourselves.
- Moral dilemma: is it ethical to educate one's children privately?
- The morality of climate activism: what are the limits to expression, when is it right to break the law?
- The ethics of ageing. Resources allocated, being able to buy a 'better death', being immortal...
Could we all reflect on these discussions, consult our notes etc, and come to the meeting ready to share a couple of things that have made a particular impression on us?
Introduction(S)
- This term we have again discussed the nature of wisdom, and in particular how it relates to artificial intelligence (AI). Is there something extra that humans have, which isn't available to an AI?
- Both a human and an AI can process sensory inputs, known facts, and apply rational processes. But in an earlier session CS said he couldn't explain how he came to some very quick, accurate decisions.
- Another differentiator: our moral values direct how we react to situations, but where do they come from?
- The most nominated influencer of personal morality was: our upbringing.
- Is character another unique characteristic not available to machines?
- We shouldn't allow ourselves to reduce our human interactions. They help us learn the benefits of teamwork.
- Less interaction between people tends to lead to more emphasis on the pursuit of personal pleasure and self-interest.
- Everything seems to be quantified today.
- Society is becoming less equal and also colder.
Discussion
Artificial Intelligence
- Let's not forget the firing and rehiring of Sam Altman from OpenAI, in part due to the split within the company between ethical and commercial interests.[1].(H)
- Is it possible that humans can do crazy things which machines cannot?(S)
- Stanislav Petrov (Станисла́в Петро́в) was the lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defence Forces who played a key role in the 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident. He was the duty officer at the nuclear early-warning system when it reported that a missile had been launched from the USA, followed by up to five more. Petrov judged the reports to be a false alarm. His subsequent decision to disobey orders, against Soviet military protocol, is credited with having prevented an erroneous retaliatory nuclear attack on the USA.[2].(G)
Society
- We should remember the John Donne poem, No Man Is an Island.[3].(M)
- Extinction Rebellion is campaigning for the government to be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly.[4]
- Elmbridge CAN has raised the hopes of many people.[5]
- And the words of the French-American Quaker missionary, Stephen Grellet:
- “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
- As we walk, we should try to make eye contact with passers-by, give a smile and hope to get a smile back.
- This is easier to achieve in Claygate than in a city.(V)
- Remember the Spike Milligan poem recited at Bryan Rhodes' funeral: Smiling is infectious,/ you catch it like the flu…[6].(M)
- Many people are naturally suspicious when approached by a stranger or out of the blue. (H) emailed a college friend from 1962-65 for the first time, and the first line of his reply was: "Is this a scam?"
- We should act in a similar way to the behaviour proposed by Pascal's Wager when confronted by an apparently sincere request for help: it's usually much better to do something.(S)
- Claygate has a sense of community which Esher doesn't.
- Gated roads and a main road running through the middle don't encourage residents to talk to each other.
- Cobham seems to suggest that you can never have too many coffee shops.(H)
- There's a crisis in the growth of depression.(H)
- The NHS doesn't have the resource to provide anything like enough time for talking therapies.
- Depression often leads to loneliness, which in turn perpetuates the depression.
- Giving help often has a beneficial effect on the giver. You get a clearer idea of who you are.(S)
- A progress talk with a migrant got off to an unpromising start about his access to help, but only came alive when he was asked: "What do you really enjoy doing?"(S)
- In the play I, Daniel Blake, based on the 2016 Ken Loach film, both protagonists could see the other needed help, but couldn't see their own need.(V)
- In Titmuss's book The Gift Relationship, he suggests that if you don't accept the gift, you break the relationship.
- Some childrens' lives are becoming too regimented, with seemingly every minute scheduled.(H)
Other topics touched on
- Secret Santa gifting.(ALL)
- The government treating migration as a giant Ponzi scheme.[8].(H, S)
- Rwanda, Israel and the Palestinians.(S)
Programmes Recommended
Books Recommended:
- Dave Eggers (2014). The Circle. Penguin.
- Paul Lynch (2023). Prophet Song. Oneworld.
- Philip Plyming (2023). Being Real: The Apostle Paul’s Hardship Narratives and The Stories We Tell Today. SCM Press.
- Richard Titmuss (1971). The Gift Relationship. George Allen & Unwin.
Books To Be Avoided:
- Alan Rickman (2022). Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries. Canongate.
References
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