Review of Handbook of Global Philosophies on AI Ethics: Towards Sustainable Futures

Abstract

In a world in which one can hardly keep track of the developments in AI, even less so the impacts it is having in our world and our lives, it is quite easy to take for granted a series of assumptions – ethical, political, metaphysical etc. – on how to approach the problem of AI, taking the concerns and principles expressed by such assumptions to be universally shared. In this context, it becomes particularly important to question this presumed universality, showing that, quite often, the discussion around AI is dominated by philosophical notions, principles and values that are the expression not of a universal humanity, but rather of specific cultures, and gain prominence not due to their presumed universality, but to the geopolitical position these cultures have and the prevalence this gives them in the context of AI development and debate. With this in mind, a book such as the Handbook of Global Philosophies on AI Ethics, edited by Naresh Singh and Ram B. Ramachandran, is a very welcome initiative, as it purports precisely to tackle over this issue, reminding us, as noted by the Foreword from Thomas Koulopoulow, that “we like to think of ethics and values as universal, but that is more of a comforting myth than a reality” (p. xi). In our review, we will thus not only present a brief overview of the book, but also a critical analysis of some of the main ideas presented in it, as well as how successful the book effectively is in contributing to show “how different philosophical traditions can help us navigate the ethical challenges of AI development with wisdom, nuance and genuine respect for human diversity”.