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Does Wittgenstein Actually Undermine the Foundation of Artificial Intelligence?

  • XU Yingjin
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  • School of Philosophy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200235, China

Published date: 15 Mar 2016

Copyright

2014 Higher Education Press and Brill

Abstract

Wittgenstein is widely viewed as a potential critic of a key philosophical assumption of the Strong Artificial Intelligence (AI) thesis, namely, that it is in principle possible to build a programmed machine which can achieve real intelligence. Stuart Shanker has provided the most systematic reconstruction of the Wittgensteinian argument against AI, building on Wittgenstein’s own statements, the “rule-following” feature of language-games, and the putative alliance between AI and psychologism. This article will attempt to refute this reconstruction and its constituent arguments, thereby paving the way for a new and amicable rather than agonistic conception of the Wittgensteinian position on AI.

Cite this article

XU Yingjin . Does Wittgenstein Actually Undermine the Foundation of Artificial Intelligence?[J]. Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 2016 , 11(1) : 3 -20 . DOI: 10.3868/s030-005-016-0002-1

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