A Reflection on Aristotle’s Golden Mean, in Relation to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

This study examined the Golden Mean in Aristotle's thought. Aristotle developed the doctrine of the mean in the course of his discussion of arete, excellence or virtue, in Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle described ethical virtue as a hexis, a tendency or disposition, induced by our habits, to have appropriate feelings. Defective states of character are hexeis as well, but there are tendencies to have inappropriate feelings. Furthermore, every ethical virtue is a condition intermediate “golden mean” between two other states, one involving excess, and the other deficiency. This study therefore sought to evaluate the golden mean doctrine to serve as guide to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence which leaves humanity with many ethical questions to ponder on, it questions the safety of human life, dignity of humanity, autonomy, and personhood among several others. The study evaluated the Golden Mean, in relation to the many substantial ethical questions in artificial intelligence. The study employed a qualitative research design. Which evaluates the different applications of artificial intelligence, including the brain-computer interfacing. The study also evaluated Aristotle's doctrine of the Golden Mean. It argues to conclusion that artificial intelligence has very many components, which can also be easily abused, the paper insists that, care must be taken to observe the ethical implications that comes with these applications.

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