The aim of the KALLIPOLIS workshop is not to deny the value of technology or artificial intelligence for human life, but to conduct a critical reflection on the human-technology relationship – is the question of the essence of being human.
Jacques Derrida analyses the Greek term 'Pharmakon’ (φάρμακον = medicine). Derrida shows that any medicine, depending on the dose in which it is applied, can as much cure as poison. „The KALLIPOLIS workshop” asks the same question regarding AI: whether AI is a kind of 'Pharmakon’ that can help education or will destroy education. The workshop shows the paradox of using AI in education. This paradox can be described by the term coincidentia oppositorum (The Unity of Opposites) – is a term used by Nicholas of Cusa.
A few words more about the KALLIPOLIS project. The name of „The KALLIPOLIS workshop – critical thinking about artificial intelligence” comes from the Greek term καλλίπολις, which literally means 'beautiful city’ (κάλλος, read kallos = beautiful and πόλις read polis = city). It is with this word in the dialogue „The Republic” that Plato defines his project of the 'ideal state’, as it used to be called in academic literature. Without going into detail now, suffice it to say that Plato proposed the project of a perfect state, which was intended to ensure the well-being of its citizens to the highest degree. However, the philosopher, guided by the highest good, went so far in the particular solutions that he forgot about the good of individual people. One could even say that Plato created a conception of the 'best something’ that was ultimately not 'good’. For this reason, the Austrian philosopher Karl Raimund Popper criticised Plato’s project, pointing out in his book „The Open Society and Its Enemies“ that the solutions advocated by Plato lead directly to totalitarianism.
Looking at modern society’s admiration for technology, computerisation, automation or, last but not least, artificial intelligence, it is hard not to see – keeping an appropriate measure of course – certain analogies. Technology – as it is often declared – is there to help people, to improve their lives, to make everything easier and better. But does it really get us where it promises to take us?
The aim of the KALLIPOLIS workshop is not to deny the value of technology or artificial intelligence for human life, but to conduct a critical reflection on the human-technology relationship in four areas: education, culture, society, economy.
During the meeting, I will introduce the concept of the KALLIPOLIS workshop and talk about the classes conducted in schools.
