Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Computing Double Major

First Advisor

Shane Ewegen

Second Advisor

Erin Seeba

Abstract

This thesis examines the impacts of technology on fundamental aspects of human nature and experience. Drawing on the works from Kant, Turing, Arendt, Benjamin, and Freud, it explores how rapid technological change is redefining human reason, intelligence, and creativity in the digital age. The first chapter analyzes whether modern online communication platforms realize or undermine Kant's vision of an enlightened public sphere fostering free discourse and critique. It argues that prioritizing engagement over substantive debate, these digital realms corrode the depth of interaction essential for cultivating human reason. The second chapter explores the pursuit of artificial intelligence as a reproduction of the human mind. Invoking Turing's vision and Arendt's critique of the hubristic scientific drive, it cautions against extending technology beyond natural limits at the cost of our humanity. The third chapter delves into Benjamin's theories on how technological reproducibility impacts art, contending that our increasingly digital consumption dulls critical aesthetic engagement and connection to shared authentic experience. Ultimately, the thesis aims to provide a nuanced perspective on navigating the intricate tensions between technological progress and preserving the core of the human experience as we forge ahead into an increasingly digitized future.

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