On a recent trip to Greece while climbing the Acropolis in 111-degree heat, our tour guide reminded us about ancient philosopher Socrates (469-399 BCE) and his proclamations about the limits of knowledge and what is knowable.
It provoked some questions for me about ChatGPT and generative AI and what can be known in our world in 2023 CE, so full of information sources, good
or bad, X or Y, stupid or profound. Seemed a good time to ask the modern-day oracle if it “knows nothing” -- more in the vein of “I-know-nothing!” Sgt. Schulz from Hogan’s Heroes (1965-1971 CE) than in expectation of a response to a final essay exam question in Phil. 401.
Here’s how it went:
Fierce Electronics: Explain what you think Socrates meant by "I know nothing" and how does that affect your responses to questions? Do you agree that ChatGPT knows nothing?
ChatGPT:
Socrates' statement "I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing" reflects his philosophical approach to knowledge and wisdom. Socrates believed in the Socratic method, a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue to stimulate critical thinking and to uncover underlying assumptions. He recognized the limitations of human knowledge and believed that true wisdom came from acknowledging one's ignorance and constantly seeking to learn and grow.
When Socrates said "I know nothing," he was emphasizing humility and an open-minded approach to learning. He understood that claiming to know everything closed the door to further inquiry and discovery. Instead, by admitting his lack of knowledge, he was able to engage in meaningful discussions and encourage others to question their own beliefs.
Now, regarding ChatGPT's stance on knowledge, it's important to clarify that ChatGPT is a computer program designed to generate text based on patterns in the data it was trained on. It doesn't possess consciousness, self-awareness, or beliefs like a human does. So, when ChatGPT says "I know nothing," it's not expressing the same philosophical perspective as Socrates. Rather, it's a recognition of its limitations – it lacks real-time awareness of events beyond its training data and cannot provide personal experiences or opinions.
ChatGPT's responses are based on the information it was trained on, and it attempts to provide helpful and coherent answers using that knowledge. However, it's important to remember that its responses are generated by algorithms and patterns, and it doesn't possess true understanding or awareness. While it can provide valuable information and insights, it's always advisable to verify information from reliable sources, especially for critical decisions or important matters.
In summary, Socrates' statement reflects a philosophical approach to humility and learning, whereas ChatGPT's "I know nothing" refers to its lack of consciousness and real-time awareness. It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with ChatGPT's knowledge, but rather understanding its nature as a tool for information and conversation. (END ChatGPT)
Final thoughts
Aside from ChatGPT’s argument on the limits of wisdom, it is interesting how the chatbot was able to transition from Socrates to its own perceptions of certainty and came out possessing more modesty than many critics are giving it credit for. We don’t know when AI will possess consciousness or self-awareness, but that’s a question for another day. (And, the singularity is probably coming sooner than I’m willing to admit.)
Like Socrates, ChatGPT knows that it is not self-aware, a lot different than saying "I know that I know nothing" but also showing a glimmer of awareness. You can email me if you have further thoughts or reactions at [email protected].