AI vs Crypto: The Choice of Philosophers from the East and the West

As two revolutionary technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency (Crypto) not only drive technological innovation but also provoke deep reflections on a philosophical level. From the rational thinking of Western philosophy to the intuition and freedom concepts of Eastern philosophy, different philosophical thoughts have varying attitudes toward these two technologies. This article will explore the perspectives that several Western and Eastern philosophers may have on AI and Crypto.

Views of Western Philosophers

Socrates: Favoring AI, but wary of its misuse

Socrates might appreciate the potential of AI, but he would also warn that it could be misused as a tool of sophistry. He would hope that AI could lead to deep reflections on moral and philosophical levels, rather than merely becoming a pure tool.

Aristotle: Supports Crypto, Opposes AI Reinforcement Learning

Aristotle might oppose AI trained through reinforcement learning, believing that this approach could deviate from natural balance and wisdom. In contrast, he might be more supportive of the decentralized characteristics of Crypto, considering it in line with the "natural law."

Descartes: Supports AI, especially its ability to mimic human thinking.

Descartes might support AI, especially its ability to self-learn and evolve by mimicking human thinking and cognitive processes. He might see AI as a natural extension of reason and thought.

Voltaire: Inclined towards Crypto, appreciates its countercultural nature

Voltaire might be attracted to the decentralized and anti-establishment characteristics of Crypto, believing it aligns with the spirit of individual freedom and opposition to despotism.

Leibniz: Supports AI, believing it can achieve harmony in the universe.

Leibniz might be very interested in AI, especially its ability to tackle complex problems through efficient logic and algorithms. He might see AI as an extension of human intelligence, aiding in the realization of cosmic harmony.

Kant: Tends towards Crypto, holds a cautious attitude towards the moral decisions of AI.

Kant might have a cautious attitude towards AI, worrying that it may overlook universal and lofty moral demands. He might be more supportive of the decentralized characteristics of Crypto, believing that it better upholds moral principles and human freedom.

Nietzsche: Supports Crypto as a tool for value reconstruction.

Nietzsche might be attracted to the decentralized nature of Crypto, seeing it as a subversion and reconstruction of traditional values, in line with his philosophy of "eternal recurrence."

Wittgenstein: Supporting AI, especially its language processing capabilities

Wittgenstein might be interested in the advancements of AI in semantic understanding and language processing, believing that AI can change the way the world expresses itself through automated language generation.

The Perspective of Eastern Philosophers

Laozi: Support Crypto, believing it aligns with "governing by doing nothing"

Laozi may support the decentralized characteristics of Crypto, believing that it aligns with the concept of "governing by doing nothing" and the natural law.

Zhuangzi: Leaning towards Crypto, believes it promotes freedom and transcendence

Zhuangzi might support crypto, believing it can help humanity transcend traditional constraints, return to nature, and align with his pursuit of freedom.

Confucius: Supports AI, but emphasizes that it should promote ethics and harmony.

Confucius might support AI, provided that it can promote social harmony and moral development. He would be wary of the ethical risks that AI might bring, emphasizing that it should support human moral growth and social order.

Zen Buddhism (Huineng): Tends towards Crypto, believing it aligns with inner freedom.

Zen Buddhism may be more supportive of Crypto, believing that its decentralized characteristics allow people to break free from the constraints of traditional power structures, aligning with the pursuit of freedom and liberation.

Buddhism (Nagarjuna): Supports Crypto, believes it aligns with the concept of "emptiness"

Buddhist philosophy may tend to support crypto, believing that its decentralized mechanism aligns with the concept of "emptiness," emphasizing the flow and impermanence of all things.

Indian Philosophy: Supports AI, believing it aids in wisdom and self-awareness.

Indian philosophy may support AI, viewing it as a means to accelerate human self-awareness and the exploration of inner wisdom, especially in the fields of psychology, meditation, and spiritual development.

Wang Yangming: Supports AI, believing it helps with "integration of knowledge and action"

Wang Yangming might support AI, believing that it can help people better understand themselves, improve their behavior, and achieve the concept of "unity of knowledge and action."

Conclusion

AI and Crypto, as two major hotspots of modern technology, have profound connections with traditional philosophical thoughts. Western philosophers largely support AI based on rationality and the potential for wisdom, while some endorse Crypto due to its decentralized characteristics. Eastern philosophers tend to support the ideals of freedom and nature in Crypto, but there are also viewpoints that recognize the role of AI in enhancing rationality and wisdom.

Regardless, the development of AI and Crypto is the crystallization of technological progress and philosophical thought. The social changes and ethical impacts they bring are worth our ongoing discussion and reflection.