Can AI Truly Think Like a Philosopher?

The Myth of AI Thinking Like Humans: Why It's Exaggerated

Over and over, it has recently been argued that AI systems are rapidly growing to the point where they can think and reason like humans on a basic level. Is this really accurate? Every few months, some self-proclaimed experts in technology claim that AI "thinks" or "reasons" just like a human does. Once again, the world is buzzing with talk of the future of AI. Do editors say such things only to get clicks? This is what most modern people have come to believe. Here is the thing, though: AI does not think. At least not in the way we all do. The gap between what machine learning can achieve AI-wise and what philosophy demands is still extensive. We humans engage in philosophical thinking beyond mere logic and linguistics. It is chaotic, reflective, and often motivated by instinct and personal history. AI? Not so much. Sure, upon request, it can provide an astonishingly good impression of a Nietzsche-styled monologue about existentialism, but it takes away the question of feeling. Does he lose sleep, wondering about the question of free will? Unless they do, And that is why it is so fundamentally important.

Thinking Without Feeling? Good Luck With That

You and I don't simply think; we feel our thoughts. Have you ever struggled with a moral dilemma, mulled over self-doubt, or felt a heavy burden of existence resting on your shoulders? Then you understand that thinking goes beyond being a mere intellectual pursuit. It is an emotional experience. It is a profoundly personal effort. Consider how Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." It was not a compact logical ending but something from a personal crisis of what is real and what is not. He was in turmoil, doubting everything: his senses, memories, and existence. The framework to the answer came when he arrived at the truth that he was doubting, which, in a simple form, meant he must exist. In contrast, AI has never-ending trust in the existence of something it interacts with. AI has no arms to accommodate doubts. It sits and contemplates none of these questions. The only processes available are information matching and output result generation. There is no inner battle. No fruition moment. No philosophy-defining "a-ha" moments. And in the absence of that, all that remains is purely reacting.

Morality: More Than Just an Algorithm

At this point in time, we can delve into AI ethics. Theoretically, machines can approach weighing moral dilemmas, at least on elementary levels. You could give it the trolley problem, and it would be able to calculate possible outcomes through different ethical frameworks, be it utilitarianism, deontology, or whatever you choose to label it. Sounds impressive. But here's where it gets weird: does the AI feel any sorrow over the choice? No. Imagine choosing between two options: pulling the lever, with the possibility of saving some lives, or standing still, with the chance of saving none. Pulling the lever isn't the end of the dilemma: we must first consider human lives when weighing our decisions, and that's a heavy matter. We might even think about our self-image after making that choice. AI is free from that burden. It doesn't have anything at stake. In that regard, the main problem derives from the difference between us and machines. Morality, devoid of personal risks and emotional complexities, is transformed into explicable equations and becomes ethics. Mathematics is not about philosophy. The meaning of the latter is lost. Ethics lies beyond just seeking the best solution and rests within its essence: what makes a solution right or wrong on a humane level? AI lacks the capabilities of empathy and reasoning. It is, and will always be, a tool, irrespective of technological progress. Thus, no matter how complex AI systems would develop, I would never trust any of them to make a real moral decision.

AI and Creativity: A Shoddy Form of Mimicry

People say, "AI can write poetry now!" "It composes music, paints, and generates wonderful philosophical essays!" Fine. Yes. AI can string words together beautifully, but let's not pretend that is the same way a human creates. When Nietzsche wrote about the will to power, he did not make an intelligent argument mechanically. He was dealing with his pain, with the illness he was struggling with, and with his disillusionment towards society. His words weren't just the product of the many books he consumed. They were the essence of his existence, forged by suffering and defiance. Creativity isn't merely combining things in a new manner. It's about deeply personal expression. And AI? It doesn't have the capability of possessing personal sentiments. It does not wish, doubt, or suffer. It doesn't create out of need, despair, or love. Instead, it mimics. It synthesizes. Absolutely, it is an excellent master imitating, but not an artist. Not in the way you and I are. Not in the way that matters.

AI Isn't the Real Mystery: The Biggest Question Is About Ourselves

The question AI debates deal with is nowhere near as interesting as whether AI can be a philosopher. There is no chance AI can think now or in the future because philosophy is painfully human; it's enveloped in our conflicts, our emotions, and our terrifying understanding of life. But here's the kicker: AI pushes us into questioning the very essence of what thinking means. Understanding the capabilities of AI raises the question about our perception of intelligence. We may have been measuring it wrong. Could it be that thinking is not simply about generating ideas but implementing them? Everything AI does, whether processing or performing, is devoid of life. It does not possess the ability to think like you and I do. So, let us stop fooling each other. Let's be honest. AI is not a philosopher. It is a reflection of ourselves. And like all mirrors, it never reveals the truth.

True Critical Thinking Comes from Firsthand Experience

There is a notion that without some form of experience informing it, thinking simply does not exist. AI systems may try to imitate what thinking is supposed to look like, but the reality of living comes with suffering, happiness, and sometimes regret, which are life experiences. The internal battle that exists within human existence is something AI can never understand.It will never be in front of you at a cafe, coffee in hand, saying, "Have you stopped to consider the great question of what our existence is meant for?" Sadly, or perhaps happily, that question is an answer that all of us are left hanging forever.