Exploring the Possibility of Realizing Strong Artificial Intelligence from the Perspective of Islamic Philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.A. Student in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran .

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

Abstract

The question of whether Strong artificial intelligence could be realized—possessing attributes of the rational soul such as self‑awareness, cognition, semantic understanding, and mental states—has in recent years become a central topic in scientific discussions, particularly within the field of philosophy of artificial intelligence. Drawing upon the foundations of Islamic philosophy, especially the doctrines of Peripatetic philosophy Illuminationist philosophy and Transcendent Philosophy, it can be argued that the realization and attachment of a soul to an artificial entity appears impossible. In both the Peripatetic and Illuminationist traditions, only a body that meets specific conditions can possess the capacity to receive the rational soul. First, it must possess a particular course of temperamentary equilibrium and elemental harmony; second, it must be a natural body endowed with organic instruments and faculties necessary for vital activities. These conditions are realized only in certain natural bodies, such as those found in plants and animals, and not in artificial bodies. Within Transcendent Philosophy, although these conditions are also acknowledged, the principle of the corporeal origination of the soul—according to which the soul emerges from the body itself—has led some researchers to assume that the realization of the rational soul within an artificial structure could be readily accepted. However, a closer analysis indicates that the doctrine of the soul’s corporeal origination is itself restricted by specific conditions and by no means implies that the soul can arise from any type of body or matter. Accordingly, from the perspective of Islamic philosophy, the possibility of realizing Strong artificial intelligence and the emergence of the rational soul within an artificial system must be regarded as untenable.

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References

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