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KIUA2011 Artificial intelligence and philosophy

    • Course code
      KIUA2011
    • Number of credits
      10
    • Teaching semester
      2026 Spring
    • Language of instruction
      Norwegian
    • Campus
      Hamar
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      Ingen spesielle krav

Course content

This course will address philosophical questions relating to AI, such as:  

  • Is AI sentient or could it become sentient? What would it take? We will look at biological, computational, behavioural and other criteria  
  • How do we know if AI is sentient (Turing test, etc.)?  
  • Can AI have moral rights and, if so, on what grounds? We will look at possible factors such as sentience, emotions, interests and objectives, autonomy and more.  
  • Could AI become a threat to humanity? Could AI become a threat to human values? 
  • What, if anything, is the principal difference between artificial and human intelligence?  
  • Can AI have a genuine understanding of and deal with the truth?  
  • Can social relationships with AI be meaningful/valuable? For example, is it right to have an AI therapist, friend or romantic partner?  
  • Could AI have moral responsibilities? For example, who is to blame if an autonomous vehicle crashes into someone, the AI or the people who created the AI?  

 

Learning Outcome

Upon successfully passing the course, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

Student will

  • Be familiar with key philosophical questions relating to AI 
  • Be familiar with different philosophical theories that may provide the basis for answering such questions 
  • Be familiar with arguments for and against such theories 
Skills

Student will

  • Be able to explain and discuss philosophical questions relating to AI 
  • Be able to discuss and assess different solutions in a critical and analytical manner  
General competence

Student:

  • Will be able to understand and analyse philosophical texts 
  • Will be able to link general philosophical theories and views to a specific topic (AI) 
  • Will be able to consider philosophical arguments 
  • Will be able to argue in defence of their own philosophical considerations and views 
Teaching and working methods
  • Lectures 
  • Seminars
Required coursework
  •  two essays
Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Home exam
ECTS - A-F
Individual
1 Week(s)
100
Form of assessment
  • one-week home examination, essay of up to 3,000 words

Alphabetical grades are used, on a scale from A to F, with E as the lowest passing grade.

Reading list

Course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Kunstig intelligens og filosofi
Faculty
Faculty for Film, TV and Games
Department
Department of Game Development - The Game School
Area of study
Matematisk-naturvitenskapelige fag/informatikk
Programme of study
Bachelor i kunstig intelligens - utvikling og anvendelse
Course level
Intermediate course, level II (200-LN)