In the first episode of our series on metaphysics, Michael Herman joins us from Episode #14 on “What is consciousness?” to discuss reality. More specifically, the question of objects in reality.
The team explores Plato’s forms, Aristotle’s realism, emergence, and embodiment to determine whether AI models can approximate from what humans uniquely experience.
We explore the profound question of what constitutes the nature of things. This talk explores the areas of properties, details, and complex systems. It also touches on old philosophical ideas and modern ideas about existence.
When we think about what defines an object, we often consider its properties. These can include features such as color, size, shape, and location. But is an object truly just a collection of these properties? This question has been a subject of much debate in philosophy, with different schools of thought offering varied answers.
What makes an individual object distinct from others? This is the question of particulars. Each object has unique features that set it apart, but what is the essence that makes it a specific, individual entity? This distinction is crucial for understanding the nature of reality and the objects that inhabit it.
Plato proposed the idea of a heavenly realm where perfect representations of objects exist. According to Plato, the objects we see in the physical world are mere shadows or approximations of these perfect forms. For example, the idea of a perfect circle exists in this area. The circles we draw or see in the real world are not perfect versions of this ideal form.
However, Aristotle challenged this notion. He argued that the truth and essence of objects exist here on earth, even if our physical manifestations are imperfect. For Aristotle, the properties and forms we observe in the physical world are the true representations of reality.
This leads us to the broader question: Does a perfect model of the world exist, or are we limited to approximate models? This debate continues to influence our understanding of reality and the nature of objects.
When we combine simple elements, do we create something entirely new and complex? This is the realm of complex systems and emergent properties. Emergent properties are things that come from the interactions of simpler parts. They make a whole that is bigger than the parts. For instance, the behavior of a flock of birds or the intelligence of a neural network can be seen as emergent properties.
In the context of modern technology, we often wonder if large language models (LLMs) can be truly intelligent. Are these systems capable of genuine understanding, or are they merely sophisticated statistical machines?
Reductionism, the view that complex systems can be understood by breaking them down into their simpler components, suggests that the behavior of LLMs can be explained mechanistically. However, the debate remains open, and the question of whether these systems possess true intelligence is still a topic of intense discussion.
Our understanding of objects and their properties is deeply intertwined with our consciousness. We perceive and describe the world through our subjective experiences, which raises the question of what is "real." Since all our perceptions and descriptions stem from consciousness, it becomes challenging to determine the true nature of objects and their properties.
One might think that the latest works in this field stop at Aristotle, but existentialism offers a different perspective. Philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre introduced the concept that "existence precedes essence." This means that beings first exist in the world, free from predefined properties, labels, or personalities. Only after they exist do we use essence to describe and categorize them. This view refutes the notion that the essence of an object is what brings it into existence.
There has been a lot of new talk about whether or not we live in a shared reality. Today, we have focused on the questions of existence and complexity. These philosophical inquiries help us understand the nature of objects and the world around us, even if the answers remain elusive.
Don't miss our next episode in this series about space-time, where we will have not one, but two exciting guests to further explore these fascinating topics.
"Even if metaphysics is useless, its insights may be so deep and so profound that it could have the highest intrinsic value to us". - Stephen Mumford, Metaphysics: A Very Short Introduction.
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