On AI and Aristotle

I was in Nashville a few weeks ago. The discussion had come up multiple times to dower the atmosphere. Right here in Music City, from under our noses, artificial intelligence is currently and will replace all music production and remove the need for musicians, producers, and writers.

A few things:

1. If anybody knows anything about how AI works, then they would know it would only replace the most formulaic and predictable of intellectual property. So yeah I guess country, western, and americana perhaps should be concerned.

2. Based on the twenty year conflict between the more digital, internet based concepts and more tangible analogous concepts, the internet did not eliminate the analog but rather created and curated niche markets for the analog to exist and thrive in value to a more appreciative base.

3. The live experience is now that highly valuable market being that it will remain the most human.

With that out of the way its time to break down the whole thing with some armchair western philosophy in order to not completely freak out from the Nietzschean abyss we think we are creating and requiring Camus 2.0 to find the next new purpose for the absurdity of existence.

Raphael’s School Of Athens, my favorite of the Renaissance frescoes, famously depicts Plato with his hand pointed up and Aristotle with is palm down representing their core tenants.

So I don’t bog down with unnecessary filler or belabor common points you may already know, most of Western Philosophy can be described as a tug of war between the teachings of Plato and Aristotle. If necessary we can go use an example like a chair or something but I don’t think we need to.

Plato through his Theory of Forms suggests that we are derivative works of a more perfect version of ourselves. And we as imperfections must strive towards our more perfect counterparts. This has both inspiring and horrific results. But to keep it stupid simple…

Plato is an Idealist

Aristotle has countered his mentor by suggesting everything that makes up the natural world are found empirically in nature itself though observation and evidence. Often leading to pragmatic results.

Aristotle is a Realist

Why does this matter in this whole AI thing?

I feel we have feared artificial intelligence with the Platonic perspective. The idea that somehow it will reach this “ideal” form that will render humanity useless. Although with this notion humanity being the “derivative” form, there must also be a dimension with a more perfect AI, leaving us with the imperfect version of a free thinking computer.

The reality is that AI functions on Aristotle’s terms. It knows what Timothee Chalamet looks like because of endless pictures of the dude online and it can pick up on the films faster that we can. Its all ground up and can only work with what we give it.

Red Letter Media made a video right around the time I was thinking similar thoughts.

In a post-modern world everything is now non-linear and referential, much like the original meme concepts. To RLM’s point, films have been referencing previous admired work since film schools became a thing. On a completely different rant it is one of the problems with academia is that it is self-aware with a diminishing return of originality.

But that is where the Aristotelian concepts leave artificial intellegence to its limitations. You want to remain immune to AI replacement? Your intellectual property must remain one step ahead in its creative intentions and style.

Originality is King. Genre bending will have to remain elusive. And the unique voices will remain extremely valuable.