ThoughtGallery.org > Consciousness Club #35: Empiricism Versus Nativism in Artificial Intelligence

Consciousness Club #35: Empiricism Versus Nativism in Artificial Intelligence

Speaker: Robert Long (NYU)

Abstract:  The age-old dispute between “empiricists” and “nativists” is a foundational issue in philosophy and cognitive science. Empiricists hold that knowledge is (almost) entirely learned from experience, whereas nativists hold that (many) mental capabilities are “built in” and arise independently of experience.

Historically, this has been a debate about human and animal minds. This talk expands the debate to artificial minds. Will truly intelligent AI require innate machinery, or can AI research proceed on empiricist grounds? Building on arguments advanced by Gary Marcus (team AI nativism) and Yann LeCun (team AI empiricism). I’ll claim that, even though nativism about human intelligence is largely correct, there’s reason to think that empiricism will prove more fruitful in artificial intelligence. However, the key challenge for AI empiricists, as for empiricists in general, is to account for how it is possible to learn abstract concepts from experience.

Entrance is free. Registration is required.

This event will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, 6:00pm* at WeWork Park South’s 10th Floor Lounge, New York, NY.

*Please note that the doors will close at 6:15pm.

The Consciousness Club NYC is a study group to promote broadly transdisciplinary discussions on the neural and computational bases of consciousness, and how these concepts can be applied to other fields of interest.

Everyone is welcome to our meetings, from scientists to philosophers, to artists, technologists, and engineers.

The Consciousness Club NYC is an initiative of YHouse, Inc.











When: Wed., Oct. 24, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: WeWork Park South
110 E. 28th St., 8th Floor Lounge

Price: Free, registration requested
Buy tickets/get more info now
See other events in these categories:

Speaker: Robert Long (NYU)

Abstract:  The age-old dispute between “empiricists” and “nativists” is a foundational issue in philosophy and cognitive science. Empiricists hold that knowledge is (almost) entirely learned from experience, whereas nativists hold that (many) mental capabilities are “built in” and arise independently of experience.

Historically, this has been a debate about human and animal minds. This talk expands the debate to artificial minds. Will truly intelligent AI require innate machinery, or can AI research proceed on empiricist grounds? Building on arguments advanced by Gary Marcus (team AI nativism) and Yann LeCun (team AI empiricism). I’ll claim that, even though nativism about human intelligence is largely correct, there’s reason to think that empiricism will prove more fruitful in artificial intelligence. However, the key challenge for AI empiricists, as for empiricists in general, is to account for how it is possible to learn abstract concepts from experience.

Entrance is free. Registration is required.

This event will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, 6:00pm* at WeWork Park South’s 10th Floor Lounge, New York, NY.

*Please note that the doors will close at 6:15pm.

The Consciousness Club NYC is a study group to promote broadly transdisciplinary discussions on the neural and computational bases of consciousness, and how these concepts can be applied to other fields of interest.

Everyone is welcome to our meetings, from scientists to philosophers, to artists, technologists, and engineers.

The Consciousness Club NYC is an initiative of YHouse, Inc.

Buy tickets/get more info now