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Why a Virtual Assistant for Moral Enhancement When We Could have a Socrates?
1University of Granada, Granada, Spain. flara@ugr.es.
Science and Engineering Ethics
|June 30, 2021
Summary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enhance moral decision-making by fostering autonomy, not by directly controlling behavior. A virtual assistant, using dialogue and virtual reality, offers a novel approach to moral enhancement education.
Area of Science:
- Ethics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The efficacy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for moral enhancement is debated.
- Current technological proposals often overlook the importance of personal autonomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate AI's potential for moral enhancement compared to human instruction.
- To propose an AI-driven alternative that respects user autonomy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing AI and biomedical moral enhancement proposals.
- Conceptualization of a virtual assistant employing dialogue, neutrality, and virtual reality.
- Comparison of AI-driven versus human-led moral educational methodologies.
Main Results:
- Direct behavioral influence via technology undermines personal autonomy, invalidating many current proposals.
- An AI virtual assistant, designed with dialogue and neutrality, can teach autonomous moral decision-making.
- This AI approach, with careful design, may surpass human instructors using similar methods.
Conclusions:
- AI's role in moral enhancement is contingent on preserving individual autonomy.
- A carefully designed AI virtual assistant presents a promising avenue for ethical education.
- Respecting autonomy is key to leveraging AI for effective moral development.
Keywords:
Artificial intelligenceAutonomyEthical decision-makingMoral AIenhancementMoral bioenhancementMoral enhancementVirtual assistantMore Related Videos
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