Wisdom in the Age of Intelligent Machines

by Edward H. Spence

Overview

This book offers an innovative approach to evaluating information and knowledge and its relation to the good life, in the Age of Autonomous Intelligent Machines, through the concept of Wisdom. Wisdom is understood as a type of meta-information and meta-knowledge, which comprises epistemic, ethical, and eudaimonic features, and provides a direct conceptual and practical link between the concepts of information, intelligence, knowledge, the good life, and wellbeing. More generally, it provides a direct link between technology and in particular Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, the good life and wellbeing. As such, the concept of wisdom allows for a direct normative evaluation of the impact the dissemination of information through ICTs and AI technologies have on the wellbeing of individuals and society at large. It provides a theoretical rationale to demonstrate the important and relevant role that wisdom plays in the specific evaluation of information in the digital and technological age in which we now live. To that end, a methodological approach  is used in this book to show how some different general types of practical manifestations of digital information and intelligence can be normatively evaluated (if they are good or bad for us) through the application of the concept of wisdom. Edward H. Spence draws from the Stoics to present a neo-Stoic account of wisdom, which he then then applies to the technologies in question. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783031938832
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	551 KB

About the Author

Edward H. Spence is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sydney, Australia, Charles Sturt University NSW, Australia, and Senior Research Fellow at the 4TU.Centre for Ethics and Technology, Netherlands.

Table of Contents

1: Introduction: Wisdom, the Peculiar Knowledge of Humans, Gods, and Machines.- 2: Information, Knowledge and Wisdom and the Pursuit of Happiness.- 3: The Application of Stoic and Neo-Stoic Philosophy to Technology.- 4: Agency and Autonomy: Artificial Agents and Morality.- 5: Meta-Ethics for the Metaverse: A Philosophical Framework.- 6:  Intelligent Machines and Wisdom: Who is in Control, Us or AI Technology?- 7: Smart Machines and Wise Guys.- 8: The Relationship Between Nature, Culture, and Intelligent Machines.- 9: Philo-(Sophia), Love of Wisdom: What’s Love Got to Do With It?- 10: Epilogue: Some Future Projections and Speculations.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“At a time when we seem to have a technology fetish and AI is relentlessly taking over important aspects of our lives, Spence interrupts our obsession with all things technological by asking ‘What is technology good for?’ His timely exploration of the relationship between AI and the good life, based on the (often neglected) concept of wisdom, is a unique and thought-provoking study.” (John Weckert, Emeritus Professor, Charles Sturt University, NSW Australia)

“Edward Spence’s book presents an original approach to Autonomous Intelligent Machines via an examination of Wisdom which combines both meta-information and meta-knowledge. This timely approach can help readers of this historical epoch make sense of the new technological input upon our shared community worldview. This is a must read for all who want to make sense of their lives during this information revolution.” (Michael Boylan, Professor of Philosophy, Marymount University, USA)