Artificial Dispositions - by William A Bauer & Anna Marmodoro (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

We inhabit a world not only full of natural dispositions independent of human design, but also artificial dispositions created by our technological prowess. How do these dispositions, found in automation, computation, and artificial intelligence applications, differ metaphysically from their natural counterparts?

This collection investigates artificial dispositions: what they are, the roles they play in artificial systems, and how they impact our understanding of the nature of reality, the structure of minds, and the ethics of emerging technologies. It is divided into four parts covering the following interconnected themes: (i) Artificial and Natural Dispositions, (ii) Artificial Systems and Their Dispositions, (iii) Agency, Mind, and Artificial Dispositions, and (iv) Artificial Moral Dispositions.

This is a groundbreaking and thought-provoking resource for any student or scholar of philosophy of science, contemporary metaphysics, applied ethics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of technology.

Review Quotes

Dispositions, entities with a foot in both actuality and the realm of mere possibility, have long puzzled and fascinated philosophers. This important collection of essays by leading experts on the philosophy of dispositions refines and leverages the notion of artificial disposition to address pressing philosophical issues concerning AI and morality.
Samuel Kimpton-Nye, Lecturer in Philosophy, King's College London, UK

Natural dispositions such as solubility and irascibility have received considerable attention in recent years, but the advent of AI has opened up new and challenging horizons. Artificial Dispositions is a timely, wide-ranging collection of essays on a morally salient topic with deep philosophical roots and far-reaching theoretical and practical implications.
John Heil, Professor of Philosophy, Washington University, USA and Durham University, UK, and Honorary Research Associate, Monash University, Australia

This book puts the spotlight on those dispositions that are so dear to design theory, engineering, and education, and yet underevaluated in much of the current debate on dispositions. Human enhancement, artificial intelligence, and artificial moral agency all find their discussion in this inspiring volume.
Ludger Jansen, Cusanus Chair of Philosophy, PTH Brixen College, Italy

About the Author

William A. Bauer is Associate Teaching Professor at North Carolina State University, USA.

Anna Marmodoro is Full Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, UK and Associate Member of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, UK.