When someone brings up the term “artificial intelligence”, a variety of connotations tend to arise, connotations that often are unfair or unrepresentative of the true real-world applications of such a term. Due to the incidentally fear-mongering nature of the media, artificial intelligence can refer to something as basic as a robotic arm in a factory, as well as the implied extinction and/or enslavement of the human race as caused by robo-revolution. As of today, however, when applied in the world of modern technology, artificial intelligence is defined as any innovation that performs a task usually completed by humans. Of course, with this definition, artificial intelligence holds the potential for both societal harm and benefit, and its fate …show more content…
The word “monster” often arises in the discussion of Frankenstein’s creation, but the novel does not primarily condemn the science of this creature’s creation; rather, it criticizes the lack accountability its creator possesses. From this, one can conclude that the development of new technology itself is not monstrous, but instead the true monstrosity arises from its misuse. Ever since its publishing, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein has been the topic of many discussions regarding the pursuit of technological advancement. Many have claimed that the novel aims to warn against the pursuit of such endeavors, as they imply the tampering with matters not meant for human hands. Although Shelley may have in part desired to convey the dangers of taking science “too far”, Frankenstein seems to have more focus on punishing Victor Frankenstein for his failure to fulfill his obligations as the harbinger of such a weighty discovery, one with the potential for both great benefit and great harm. Immediately after Victor Frankenstein witnesses his creation come to life, he becomes overwhelmed with …show more content…
Only recently has the topic arisen in its modern interpretation, but mankind has long pondered over the possibility of automation. For centuries, scientists, authors, and philosophers have discussed the potential creation of automatons, or automated machines, as well as the possibility that the processes of the human mind are mechanical, and could perhaps be replicated artificially. In his 1748 materialist work titled L’Homme Machine, or “Man a Machine”, philosopher Julien Offray de La Mettrie describes “that thought seems to be a property of matter, like electricity, power to move, impenetrability, extension, etc” (de La Mettrie 30). De La Mettrie negated the ideals of Descartes, who had previously stated that the functions of the mind were of a different nature. This new way of thinking helped to get the scientific ball rolling for the future creation of intelligent machinery. For the majority of history, such matters would be considered supernatural or simply out of the realm of foreseeable scientific accomplishment, in that they were merely works of fiction and such technology was too far out of reach. However, with the development of computer technologies in the 1900’s, suddenly the sky became the limit. With the help of computers, new innovations quickly advanced the technology industry, allowing for much more efficient
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is ‘one of the pioneering works of modern science fiction’, and is also a frightening story that speaks to the ‘mysterious fears of our nature’. Mary Shelley mocks the idea of “playing God”, the idea that came from the Greek myth of Prometheus, of the Greek titan who stole Zeus’ gift of life. Both the story of Frankenstein and Prometheus reveal the dark side of human nature and the dangerous effects of creating artificial life. Frankenstein reveals the shocking reality of the consequences to prejudging someone. The creature’s first-person narration reveals to us his humanity, and his want to be accepted by others even though he is different. We are shown that this ‘monster’ is a ‘creature’ and more of a human
Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, explores the theme of the pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery through the main characters; Victor Frankenstein, the Creature and Robert Walton. This pursuit of knowledge drives the plot of the novel, leading Victor to create the Creature in his attempt to break down the mortal barriers that surround him and unlock the secret of life. Robert Walton’s quest for discovery leads him to the North Pole, far beyond the reach of Humans at that time. Ultimately Victor’s thirst for knowledge and scientific discovery did him more harm than good with Victor’s hatred of his creation driving him to death. Frankenstein’s message to the modern is age is simply put as “humans should not meddle in the business of the gods”. Mary Shelley’s is using Frankenstein and the actions of the characters in the novel to warn us that although we have the technology to for example, create a human being, some things are better left to nature. In our quest for knowledge we can do ourselves more harm than good. Through her novel Shelley tells us that on our path of scientific discovery there are some trails better left unexplored.
In Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein”, Victor Frankenstein’s monster is an unrealistic character. The monster is involved with the realistic elements of desire of control, alienation, and thoughtless ambition. It is revealed the overall theme of the novel, that the pursuit of knowledge, is dangerous.
He is in constant refusal of responsibility, and ends up essentially plaguing not only his life, but also the lives around him. After constructing and animating the creature, he’s in a flux never ending negative emotions. The creation gets turned into a monster both physically and mentally. Frankenstein describes the horrors that come along with scientific experimentation, and the pursuit of science unavoidably leading to tragedy. The novel presents insights that are just as valid today as when the novel was written in the 19th century. Dr. Frankenstein makes a scientific breakthrough in his creation of the monster, but at what cost? This novel shows us the dangers of attempting to find something we are simply unprepared to manage. Victor’s urges to truly learn the secret of making life completely blinds him to the consequences of achieving such a feat. This book also shows that our ethical (or unethical) actions have the potential to hurt not only ourselves, but also others around us.
“The author of Frankenstein made it clear that it was not natural science and technology as such that led Victor and the poor monster to their doom, but only their uncritical and fanatical pursuit,” (Jagger 274) so much so that even Frankenstein when he later reflects on the time spent creating the creature comes to this conclusion saying he himself “appeared rather one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines, or any other unwholesome trade than an artist occupied by his favorite employment.” (Shelley 35) Frankenstein comes to regret his unnatural quest for the secret to creation saying “If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind” so much so that if we observed control over our pursuits “Greece [would] not [have] been enslaved; Caesar would have spared his country; [..] and the empires of Mexico and Peru [would] not [have] been destroyed.” (Shelley 34). The single-minded strive for knowledge, science, is so destructive and unnaturally that it “dabble[s] in dirt” and “penetrates into the recesses of nature, and [show] how she works in her hiding places.” (Shelley
Having shown that exploratory disclosure and learning is intrinsically nonpartisan yet defiled by human culture, Shelley has created another message about information and science; it is the obligation of the researcher and society to keep the abuse and mishandle of that learning. The peruser can watch this to be the situation in "Frankenstein"; Shelley does not display the science and creation itself as underhanded, yet demonstrates that it turns out to be so through the flighty activities of its inventor. In this manner, her notice and judgment of learning is not one against the information itself, but rather against the researchers who are flippant with their revelations. The animal's dangerous frenzy is malevolent, regardless of the fact
Since its publication in 1818, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has grown to become a name associated with horror and science fiction. To fully understand the importance and origin of this novel, we must look at both the tragedies of Mary Shelley's background and her own origins. Only then can we begin to examine what the icon "Frankenstein" has become in today's society.
Over two centuries ago, Mary Shelley created a gruesome tale of the horrific ramifications that result when man over steps his bounds and manipulates nature. In her classic tale, Frankenstein, Shelley weaves together the terrifying implications of a young scientist playing God and creating life, only to be haunted for the duration of his life by the monster of his own sordid creation. Reading Shelley in the context of present technologically advanced times, her tale of monstrous creation provides a very gruesome caution. For today, it is not merely a human being the sciences are lusting blindly to bring to life, as was the deranged quest of Victor Frankenstein, but rather to
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein explores the concepts of knowledge and science and the dangers involved with the pursuit and investigation of these ideas. The novel conveys Shelley’s attitudes towards science by portraying it as having the capability to exceed the bounds of human restraint. Through the development of her protagonist Victor Frankenstein, the romantic and gothic aspects of her novel, the period of 1818 and the influences of the world she was living in that
The creation of Frankenstein’s monster was certainly the impetus for the tragedy that would ensue. If not for this, the lives of William, Justine, Henry, and Elizabeth would have been saved. One may think, however, that the creation of the monster ended Frankenstein’s quest for knowledge because he became more determined to protect his secret from society and destroy his savage creation. The guilt
Victor Frankenstein exercised his thirst for knowledge upon entering university and learned about modern sciences and alchemy. With his burning ambition to seek for the power of creation, he pushed past the known limits of humanity and becomes successful in obtaining the answer to create life. Though momentarily satisfied with the power to bring life, Frankenstein acknowledges that the power of being able to create life was a mistake; Unwilling to acknowledge the “magnitude and complexity” of his task and thereby practice responsible creativity, Frankenstein oversized the “minuteness of the parts” in an attempt to make the reality of his endeavor match the grandeur of his intentions (Harriet Hustis,
Frankenstein is a classic novel that tells the story of a committed science student, Victor Frankenstein and the dangers of science. Victor becomes obsessed with the “cause of generation and life” and after he brings an inanimate matter to life his world is turned upside down and many disturbing questions about the humankind are raised. This book is an excellent example of judgment based on appearances and lack of understanding people but it also has a much larger issue that lies beneath the story. Frankenstein not only tells a terrifying story but also brings some profound questions about the nature of life to light. This larger concept or issue that underlies the story is that we are afraid of scientific advancement in some areas. Frankenstein examines the fears of scientific developments and the danger of exploration.
Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein written in 1818 is a novel about scientist Victor Frankenstein who brings a creature to life, and the journey of the two from the monsters creation to their demise. Many interpretations and readings have been attributed to this novel, all of which apply a different understanding to the meaning of the text, the themes and the characters. The notion of the monster and the pursuit of knowledge in a slowly globalising world is prevalent throughout the novel and will be explored later on with a direct analysis drawn from the two theories of Post Modernism and Marxism.
In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley is trying to convey the message that science and technology can be dangerous in the wrong hands. She affirms this idea through the character of Victor, a cautionary tale, but dispels the idea that all pursuit of knowledge is bad through more traditionally romantic characters such as Henry Clerval. Shelley is complicit in her understanding that curiosity and experimentation are unbreakably tied to the human condition, and tries to warn the world of the evil that can come from this. However, the effects of the interpretation of this book can vary: it is an exemplary cautionary tale, and a much needed reminder of ethics in an increasingly technology-dependent world, but one could easily take these warnings too far and use her novel as a means to quell innovation or incite censorship. In a world of technology that would be unbelievable to Shelley, her work still remains relevant, notably in the field of genetic engineering. Frankenstein raises important questions about ethics, responsibility and censorship, and is applicable to modern technological issues such as genetic engineering.
This essay is about the philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it will delve deep into the question of the many philosophical implications of AI. In this paper, I will argue that a machine being able to think and the possibility of an emerging post human future due to the hypothetical invention of AI has philosophical implications for the future of humanity. The intersection of strong and weak AI with human consciousness is also explored through the examples of IBM’s AI systems such as Watson and Deep Blue. Overall, the aim of this essay is to examine the philosophical implications of the emerging post human future.