Kantian Perspectives on Science, New Technologies and Reason-based Conduct

Abstract

The relation in Kant between his theoretical and practical philosophy is complex, both independent and complementary. This panel invites papers which explore this relation particularly in light of old and new challenges, such as scientism, new technologies and the possibility of a common good. On some accounts, particularly related to new technologies, a recourse to Kant’s conception of reason is needed, in order to critique the merely instrumental view of intelligence that is embedded in current AI, and the social dangers posed by widespread reliance on AI. On other accounts, what is needed is a reconstruction of Kant’s practical philosophy in terms of "self-constitution", in order to confirm the epistemic status of Kant’s (pure) practical philosophy, and also to update political theory in terms of including the ecological and planetary dimension of the conditio humana without sacrificing human dignity. Finally, on still other accounts, one way to discuss the relation in Kant between theoretical and practical philosophy is based on a simple derivation of the categorical imperative from a contemporary epistemic norm of theoretical philosophy and assumptions of contemporary philosophy of action, yielding a new abductive solution to a difficult problem of Kant's practical philosophy, namely the problem of false positives of the categorical imperative.

Title	Details
How to Solve the Problem of False Positives Abductively	View Paper Details
Reconstructing Kant’s Practical Philosophy within "Science"—Shifting Kant’s Science–Philosophy Boundary	View Paper Details
From Technocentrism to Humanism: A Kantian Perspective on the AI Revolution	View Paper Details