Symposium: Philosophy and the Origins of Artificial Intelligence

There is a deep historical relationship between philosophy and artificial intelligence. Many scholars have noted that key insights leading to the development of computers and large language models originated with the German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Less widely known, however, is that Leibniz's philosophical, mathematical, and logical innovations were profoundly influenced by his encounter with Chinese thought. To explore this overlooked dimension of AI's philosophical origins, rooted in an exchange between Europe and Asia, American philosopher David Dusenbury joins PhD student Eirik Fevang for a wide-ranging conversation about the intertwined history of artificial intelligence and philosophy, and what this past can tell us about our future.

David Lloyd Dusenbury is an American philosopher and historian of ideas, and Associate Professor of Humanities at the University of Florida. His work explores the intersection of philosophy and intellectual history, with particular interest in how ancient thought continues to shape contemporary questions. He has lectured widely across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States.

The series Symposium is a collaboration between Salongen – nettidsskrift for filosofi og idéhistorie and Litteraturhuset i Bergen. 

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Foto: Danube Institute/ UiB / Canva