Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 35, No. 427.
Department of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne
Hosted by DH-Cologne
www.dhhumanist.org
Submit to: humanist@dhhumanist.org
[1] From: Dr. Herbert Wender <drwender@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence??? (66)
[2] From: James Rovira <jamesrovira@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence??? (17)
[3] From: scholar-at-large@bell.net <scholar-at-large@bell.net>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence??? (31)
--[1]------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2021-12-28 21:33:59+00:00
From: Dr. Herbert Wender <drwender@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence???
Dear Willard,
from the perspective of literary studies I would like to lead back the scope on
two bicentenaries: Kleist's "Über das Marionettentheater" (1810) and E.T.A.
Hoffmann's "Der Sandmann" (1816), the latter as example for the fear to be
subdued by masterpieces of artificialty, the former not for the 'Grazie' of the
marionette but for the superb fighting qualitites of the "Fencing Bear" (cf.
Rushing Jr., GermQuart 1988). I'm not an expert in such questions but suspect
that one can see a parallel in the situation between the human fighter and the
bear and to play Go against AlphaZero - isn't it?
Kind regards, Herbert
-----Ursprüngliche Mitteilung-----
Von: Humanist <humanist@dhhumanist.org>
An: drwender@aol.com
Verschickt: Di, 28. Dez 2021 9:37
Betreff: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence???
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 35, No. 426.
Department of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne
Hosted by DH-Cologne
www.dhhumanist.org
Submit to: humanist@dhhumanist.org
Date: 2021-12-28 08:26:17+00:00
From: Willard McCarty <willard.mccarty@mccarty.org.uk>
Subject: critical artificial intelligence???
From my perspective a discipline whose focus is computing in and of the
humanities, or perhaps better, human sciences, should be meeting
'artificial intelligence' straight on with a combination of technical
knowledge, an historical imagination, keen critical discernment,
anthropological scope and a thorough education in the arts and
humanities. Perhaps this is asking too much? Or not enough?
If my expression of impatience is not in fact excessive, if my
disappointment in the literature on AI is due to ignorance of key texts,
kindly put this ignorance to rest with references to such texts. I've just
begun reading Erik Larson's The Myth of Artificial Intelligence (2021)
so cannot say much -- kindly excuse the following if it is unfair -- but I am
initially disappointed by the casual use of 'myth' to mean a "untrue or
erroneous story or belief; a widely held misconception" (OED). That's true
enough of the blather spilling from the bandwagon, or rather the two
bandwagons (the 'buy now for a taste of the future' bandwagon and the
'run for your life' one). But in his use and understanding of the word,
Thomas Rid's The Rise of the Machines (2016) is far better. It's a good
start...
Perhaps this is a rather indirect way of asking for recommendations, but
that's what it is.
Comments?
Yours,
WM
--
Willard McCarty,
Professor emeritus, King's College London;
Editor, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews; Humanist
www.mccarty.org.uk
--[2]------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2021-12-28 17:27:13+00:00
From: James Rovira <jamesrovira@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence???
It sounds to me like you're not describing a discipline so much as an
interdisciplinary department.
Jim R
On Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 3:37 AM Humanist <humanist@dhhumanist.org> wrote:
>
> From my perspective a discipline whose focus is computing in and of the
> humanities, or perhaps better, human sciences, should be meeting
> 'artificial intelligence' straight on with a combination of technical
> knowledge, an historical imagination, keen critical discernment,
> anthropological scope and a thorough education in the arts and
> humanities. Perhaps this is asking too much? Or not enough?
>
>
>
--[3]------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2021-12-28 12:06:38+00:00
From: scholar-at-large@bell.net <scholar-at-large@bell.net>
Subject: Re: [Humanist] 35.426: critical artificial intelligence???
Willard,
I share your impatience. We are after all mortal.
Your reference to myth and previous posts in the Humanist archive made me think
that Northrop Frye should be on the circulars and curriculums of computing
science majors (Sherry Turkle would likely approve).
I don’t mean the Frye of the magnus opus Anatomy of Criticism but the perhaps
more accessible Frye of Fable & Myth.
Google (my search games the system) on “fable & myth” :
[quote]
While a myth is a category of a story that is considered true, a fable is a
category that is considered false or fictional.
[/quote]
In our day to day work is filled with frustrations (fables) conditioned by the
irritation of myths.
Hope this helps.
F
François Lachance, Ph.d.
scholar-at-large@bell.net
living in the beginning of the long 22nd century; sequencing the "future
antérieur"
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