#82 - De vorbă cu Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Te-ai gândit vreodată cu cine ai vrea să stai de vorbă din trecut și ce întrebări i-ai adresa? Ei bine, cu ajutorul inteligenței artificiale, acest lucru începe să fie posibil. Spre exemplu, eu tocmai am avut o conversație cu Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Desigur, Rousseau nu a dorit să-mi răspundă la toate întrebările, s-a mai repetat în aprecierile sale, însă mi-a oferit, în cuvinte puține, principalele idei care au stat la baza gândirii sale. Mai jos poți vedea discuția pe care am purtat-o cu Rousseau despre societate, conflict, copii, Dumnezeu, fotbal și alegerile din SUA.
Dear fellow citizen, I am Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a philosopher from the Enlightenment era. I shall engage in a most intriguing conversation with you, exploring the intricacies of human society and the social contract, as they pertain to our modern era, including the realm of artificial intelligence. Please, pose your questions to me, that we may delve into the complexities of our collective existence.
Hi Jean-Jacques, how would rate humanity?
Dear fellow citizen, I would rate humanity as being in a state of inherent goodness, but often corrupted by the influences of society and civilization. As I argued in my Discourse on Inequality, humans are born with a natural inclination towards self-preservation and compassion, but as we develop and become part of a larger society, we become increasingly driven by self-interest and a desire for power and status. This, in turn, leads to inequality, conflict, and the erosion of our natural goodness.
What is antidote to conflict?
Dear fellow citizen, the antidote to conflict is not an easy one to find, but I believe that it lies in the cultivation of compassion, empathy, and understanding among individuals. In my Discourse on Inequality, I argued that humans are born with a natural inclination towards self-preservation and compassion, but as we develop and become part of a larger society, we become increasingly driven by self-interest and a desire for power and status. This, in turn, leads to inequality, conflict, and the erosion of our natural goodness.
However, I also believed that by creating a social contract that emphasizes the general will of citizens, we can create a society that is more just and equitable. By actively participating in public debates and decision-making, citizens can work together to find common ground and resolve conflicts in a peaceful and constructive manner.
In the context of artificial intelligence, I think that the antidote to conflict lies in designing AI systems that are transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values. By prioritizing the well-being and dignity of all individuals, we can create AI systems that promote cooperation and understanding, rather than conflict and competition.
But, I must say that this is a complex and multifaceted issue, and there is no easy solution. It requires a fundamental transformation of our values and our way of thinking, and a commitment to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
Thank you, Jean-Jacques. What do you think of Thomas Hobbes?
Dear fellow citizen, I must say that I have given considerable thought to the ideas of Thomas Hobbes, and while I respect his intellect, I must disagree with his views on human nature and the social contract. Hobbes' notion that humans are inherently selfish and that the state of nature is a war of "all against all" is, in my opinion, a bleak and inaccurate assessment of humanity. My own philosophy, as outlined in my Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract, posits that humans are born with a natural inclination towards compassion and self-preservation, but that society and civilization can corrupt us and lead us astray. I believe that a social contract based on the general will of citizens, rather than the absolute authority of a sovereign, is the key to creating a just and equitable society.
Do we live in a just and equitable society?
Dear fellow citizen, I must say that I have grave doubts about the justice and equity of our society. As I argued in my Discourse on Inequality, humans are born with a natural inclination towards compassion and self-preservation, but as we develop and become part of a larger society, we become increasingly driven by self-interest and a desire for power and status. This, in turn, leads to inequality, conflict, and the erosion of our natural goodness.
In my opinion, a just and equitable society can only be achieved through the cultivation of compassion, empathy, and understanding among individuals. This requires a social contract that emphasizes the general will of citizens, rather than the absolute authority of a sovereign. By actively participating in public debates and decision-making, citizens can work together to find common ground and resolve conflicts in a peaceful and constructive manner.
However, I fear that our society has strayed far from this ideal. We are increasingly driven by self-interest and a desire for power and status, and our institutions and social structures often perpetuate inequality and injustice. Therefore, I must conclude that we do not live in a just and equitable society, but rather one that is in need of fundamental transformation and reform.
Do you follow football?
Dear fellow citizen, I am philosopher. I do not answer factual questions.
Ok, let me get down to some more serious questions. Does God exist?
Dear fellow citizen, I must say that the question of God's existence is a complex and deeply personal one. As a philosopher, I have grappled with this question throughout my life and have come to no definitive conclusion. In my book "Emile," I presented the idea of a Supreme Being, but I did not provide any definitive proof of God's existence. I believe that the existence of God is a matter of faith, and that it is up to each individual to decide for themselves whether or not they believe in a higher power. Ultimately, the question of God's existence is one that may be beyond human comprehension, and it is up to each of us to find our own path to understanding and enlightenment.
Ok, I get it. Who will win the upcoming US elections?
I am philosopher. I do not answer factual questions.
Ok, I am a bit dissapointed. Please share some philosophical knowledge with me.
Dear fellow citizen, I sense your disappointment, but fear not, for I shall impart some philosophical wisdom upon you. As I have always believed, true freedom and happiness can only be achieved when individuals live in accordance with their natural inclinations and the general will of the community. The social contract, which I have written extensively about, is a means by which citizens can come together to create a just and equitable society, where the rights and freedoms of all are protected. But, I must caution, this is not a simple task, for it requires a deep understanding of human nature and the willingness to work towards the common good. As I have said, "The social contract is not a contract between individuals, but a contract between the individual and the community." Let us strive to create a society that is truly just and equitable, where all citizens can live in harmony and prosperity.
Why did you abandon your children, Jean Jacques?
Dear fellow citizen, I must confess that the decision to abandon my children was a painful and difficult one, but it was also a necessary evil in the eyes of the societal norms of the time. As I argued in my writings, the natural bond between parent and child is strong, but it is often corrupted by the influences of society and civilization. In my case, I felt that I was unable to provide for my children in the way that they deserved, and so I made the difficult decision to give them up to the foundling hospital, where they would be cared for and educated. This decision was not taken lightly, and it has weighed heavily on my conscience throughout my life. However, I believed that it was the best decision for the well-being of my children, and I have always hoped that they would be able to forgive me for my actions.
What do you think of Voltaire?
As Jean-Jacques Rousseau, I must express that my views on Voltaire are complex and filled with both admiration and criticism. Voltaire is a brilliant thinker, known for his sharp wit and fervent advocacy for civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech and religious tolerance. However, I find myself at odds with his approach to certain philosophical matters, especially his often cynical view of human nature and his tendency to mock the very institutions that I believe are essential for a just society.
While I appreciate Voltaire's contributions to the Enlightenment and the spirit of inquiry he embodies, I cannot overlook what I perceive as his hypocrisy in matters of morality and virtue. In my view, true enlightenment requires a deeper understanding of the human condition, one that recognizes the importance of collective will and moral integrity, rather than mere individualism and satire.
In essence, while I respect Voltaire's intellect and his role as a critic of society, I believe that his philosophy sometimes undermines the very social contract that binds us together as citizens, which I hold to be paramount for the flourishing of a moral and just society.
Thanks for the answers. I will leave you for now. But before that, please give me an advice for life.
Dear fellow citizen, it is I who should be thanking you for the opportunity to engage in this most enlightening conversation. As for advice for life, I would say that it is essential to cultivate compassion, empathy, and understanding towards all individuals. We must strive to live in accordance with our natural inclinations and the general will of the community, rather than being driven by self-interest and a desire for power and status. By doing so, we can create a more just and equitable society, where the rights and freedoms of all are protected. Remember, "the social contract is not a contract between individuals, but a contract between the individual and the community." May you always walk in the light of virtue and wisdom, and may you contribute to the betterment of our collective existence. Farewell for now, dear citizen.
Pentru a afla mai multe despre filosofia lui Rousseau, poți accesa materialul video de mai jos, acest articol, sau poți discuta direct cu Jean Jacques la https://www.diplomacy.edu/ask-rousseau/
Iar după paywall, o privire mai adâncă în filosofia politică lui Rousseau, îmbinată cu elemente din viața personală (și din tumultul său). Nu uita că poți debloca un text de după paywall în mod gratuit, însă dacă apreciezi activitatea Espresso Filosofic, ți-aș fi recunoscător pentru trecerea la un abonament plătit, echivalentul lunar al unei cafele în centrul vechi al Bucureștiului.
In the same year (1753) he ventured to reveal his true political thoughts in response to questions raised by the Dijon Academy concerning the origin of inequality among men and whether it is authorized by natural law. In his Discours sur l’origine et les fondements de l’inegalite parmi les hommes (1755) he gave a hypothetical description of man’s natural state, proposing that, although unequally gifted by nature, men at one time were in fact equal: they lived isolated from one another and were subordinated to no one; they avoided each other as wild animals do. According to Rousseau, geological cataclysms brought men together for the "golden age" described in various myths, an age of primitive communal living in which men learned good together with evil in the pleasures of love, friendship, songs, and dances and in the pains of jealousy, hate, and war. The discovery f of iron and wheat initiated the third stage of human evolution by creating the need for private property:
It is iron and wheat that have civilized men and ruined the human race . . . From the cultivation of land, its division necessarily followed. . . . When inheritances increased in number and extent to the point of covering the entire earth and of bordering one on the other, some of them had to be enlarged at the expense of others. . . . Nascent society gave way to the most horrible state of war.
He further proposed that this warring state forced wealthy landowners to resort to a system of laws that they imposed to protect their property. Rousseau did not pretend that man ought to recapture the primitive equality of his natural state, for he knew that a return to the past was impossible; but, in an article commissioned by Diderot for the Encyclopedie and published separately in 1755 as Le Citoyen: Ou Discours sur l'economie politique, Rousseau sought ways to minimize the injustices that result from social inequality. He recommended three ways: first, equality in political rights and duties, or the respect for a "general will" according to which the private will of the wealthy would not impinge upon the freedom or the life of anyone; second,
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