The Philosophy of AI

International Workshop

September 25-27, 2025

(Institute of Philosophy, Jilska 361/1, Prague)

The profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on human society is undeniable, and its influence is expected to grow even further in the coming years. Alongside the remarkable benefits that AI offers in numerous fields, there are several pressing challenges, many of them philosophical in nature, ranging from ethics and epistemology to ontology and other areas. Critical questions arise regarding the limits of AI application, the economic, ecological, and political frameworks necessary for its smooth functioning, and the ethical, political, geopolitical, and existential consequences of its deployment. Furthermore, the ontological nature of AI itself—whether it is understood as an object or a subject—raises fascinating questions about its “intelligence,” “artificiality,” and “agency.” Recent discussions have highlighted the potential for effectively exploring many of these fundamental questions through the lens of classical philosophical traditions, such as the ideas of Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Hegel, Brentano, and other historical figures. These perspectives offer the potential to reshape our understanding not only of AI and its integration into society, but also of our own nature as human beings. 

The department of philosophy of the University of Bamberg organises a series of workshops in cooperation with the Universities of ?eské Budějovice (Budweis) and Budapest to address this emerging and challenging topic. The inaugural meeting takes place in Prague from September 25 to 27, 2025. Further workshops are planned for 2026 and 2027. The outcomes of the meetings will be published in a peer-reviewed edited volume. With this initiative, we aim to engage scientists, philosophers, and experts from various disciplines and sectors in exploring the philosophical implications of AI, thus fostering a deeper, more nuanced, and insightful understanding of its role in our world.

Funded by:

Bayerisch-Tschechische Hochschulagentur (BTHA)

Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds

Programme

25^th September

10:30-11:00 

     M. J. Fuchs (Bamberg), Daniel Novotn? (Budweis; Johannesburg), Dániel Schmal (Budapest)

     The Philosophy of AI. Introduction to the Workshop

11:00-12:00

     Emanuele Lacca (Budweis)

     AI and Social Ethics. Challenges and Perspectives for Contemporary Societies

12:00-14:00 Lunch Break 

14:00-15:00 

     Michael Kenning (Bamberg)

     Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Reason: A Revision of Terminology

15:00-15:30 Coffee Break

15:30-16:30

     Daniel Novotn? (Budweis, Johannesburg)

     Philosophical Perspectives on AI Risks

16:30-17:30

     Ond?ej Krása (Pardubice)

     Can we Understand AI? Conceptual Limits of Mechanistic Interpretability. 

26^th September

10:00-11:00 

     Laszlo Bernath (Budapest) 

     AI vs Philosophers

11:00-11:30 Coffee Break

11:30-12:30

     Ermylos Plevrakis (Stuttgart)

     On (Artificial) Consciousness and Mind, from a Hegelian Perspective

12:20-14:30 Lunch Break 

14:30-15:30 

     Andrea Vestrucci (Bamberg, ILT University, SD, USA)

     Why Do Philosophy with AI (And Why It Matters Ethically) (Online)

15:30-16:00 Coffee Break

16:00-17:00

     Juraj Hvoreck? (Prague)

     AI and the Unconsciousness

17:00-17:30 Coffee Break 

17:30-19:00

     Joanna Bryson (Berlin)

     How Consciousness Relates to Morality: When Artificial Consciousness Is Unimportant

 19:30 Conference Dinner 

27^th September

09:30-10:30 

     Peter Varga (Budapest) 

     Where does the true challenge of AI lie for (Catholic) theology and philosophy of religion? From the Index Thomisticus to Antiqua et nova and back again

10:30-11:30 

      Ehsan Arzroomchilar (Budweis) 

     A Sufi Way of Living with AI (?)

11:30-12:00 Coffee Break

12:00-13:00 

     Dániel Golden (Budapest)

     Is there an artificial intelligence?

13:00-13:30 

     M. J. Fuchs (Bamberg), Daniel Novotn? (Budweis, Johannesburg), Dániel Schmal (Budapest)

     Closing Remarks by the Organisers, Outlook on Future Events of the Series

End of the Workshop

Participants  

1. Marko J. Fuchs (Bamberg) / Dániel Schmal (Budapest, HUN-REN Centre for the Humanities) / Daniel Novotn? (Budweis, Johannesburg): “Introduction”
2. Joanna Bryson (Hertie School Berlin): “How Consciousness Relates to Morality: When Artificial Consciousness Is Unimportant”
3. Ermylos Plevrakis (Stuttgart): “On (Artificial) Consciousness and Mind, from a Hegelian Perspective”
4. Daniel Novotn? (Budweis; Johannesburg): “Philosophical Perspectives on AI Risks”
5. Michael Kenning (Bamberg): “Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Reason: A Revision of Terminology”
6. Emanuele Lacca (Budweis): “AI and Social Ethics. Challenges and Perspectives for Contemporary Societies”
7. Andrea Vestrucci (Bamberg, ILT University, SD, USA): “Why Do Philosophy with AI (And Why It Matters Ethically)”
8. Juraj Hvoreck? (Prague, Centrum Karla ?apka): “AI and the Unconsciousness”
9. Dániel Golden (Budapest, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities): “Is there an artificial intelligence?”
10. Laszlo Bernath (Budapest, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities): “AI vs Philosophers”
11. Ehsan Arzroomchilar (Budweis): “A Sufi Way of Living with AI (?)”
12. Peter Varga (Budapest, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities): “Where does the true challenge of AI lie for (Catholic) theology and philosophy of religion? From the Index Thomisticus to Antiqua et nova and back again”
13. Ond?ej Krása (Pardubice): “Can we Understand AI? Conceptual Limits of Mechanistic Interpretability”