A recent social media post by Johnathan Bi, host of a popular podcast on "Great Books," has ignited a philosophical debate regarding artificial intelligence's capacity to author significant literary works. Bi asserted that AI could indeed write a "Great Book," challenging the traditional notion that human authorship, imbued with personal experience and "soul," is a prerequisite for such distinction. The discussion, which featured Brendan McCord, "anecdotal," and "zenahitz," was moderated by Ari Schulman.
Bi posited that while a certain "soul" or lived experience might be absent in AI-generated text, the content itself could be "so moving, brilliant, and better than what any human could do that we overlook this tradeoff." He drew a parallel to religious texts, stating, "In fact, there already are Great Books which claim to not be written by man. The Quran, for its believers, is great precisely because it is not authored by a human." This perspective suggests a re-evaluation of what constitutes literary greatness in an age of advanced AI.
The tweet acknowledged a counter-argument, noting that "something is lost when there’s no soul behind the words." It highlighted how readers connect with the "weight of a life lived" in works by philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche, and Machiavelli, a depth that might be absent in AI-authored books. This tension between intellectual brilliance and the profound human element forms the core of the debate.
Among the participants in the discussion was Brendan McCord, an AI entrepreneur and leader of the Cosmos Institute, a non-profit dedicated to exploring AI's role in human flourishing. McCord, who contributed to the Pentagon's first AI strategy, frequently engages with the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Moderating the exchange was Ari Schulman, editor of The New Atlantis, a journal known for its focus on technology's impact on society and culture.
The debate delved into various facets of AI's influence, including its potential to reshape academic philosophy and its limitations in teaching concepts like prudence, contrasting with its ability to handle factual subjects such as mathematics. The conversation also touched upon broader concerns, including the "dark side of tech," reflecting the complex societal implications of rapidly advancing AI capabilities. Johnathan Bi's platform, which offers lectures and interviews on classic philosophical and literary works, frequently explores contemporary issues through the lens of historical thought.