On November 17, the Center for Philosophy and the Future of Mankind at Peking University was officially established. "Political Affairs News" (WeChat ID: zsenews) learned from the establishment site of the center that this is the first research center in the liberal arts and sciences of Peking University, which will conduct research on the ethics of artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology.
Lin Jianhua, who has just stepped down as president of Peking University, is the chairman of the board
"Political Affairs News" (WeChat ID: zsenews) learned that the director of the Research Center for philosophy and the future of mankind is Wang Bo, vice president of Peking University, and there are two directors of the academic committee, namely Zhao Dunhua and Gao Wen. Zhao Dunhua is the director of the Academic Committee of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University, and Gao Wen is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the director of the Department of Information and Engineering Science. This combination fully reflects the interdisciplinary characteristics of the combination of arts and sciences.
It is worth mentioning that the chairman of the research center is Lin Jianhua, former president of Peking University. Today (November 17) morning, Lin Jianhua attended the inauguration ceremony of the center and unveiled the center. This is also the first public appearance of Lin Jianhua after he stepped down as president of Peking University.
"I think the research at this center is a very important thing, since science broke away from philosophy, the development of science has been like a wild horse, developing rapidly, changing people's perceptions and lives." Lin Jianhua said that the current social changes are too fast, and it has begun to fundamentally subvert people's cognition, and people realize that they must seriously think about the future of mankind.
Lin Jianhua said that he himself came from a science background, and before working in school, he only had chemistry in his mind, and his work at the school allowed him to contact some humanities concepts, which was quite beneficial.
In his view, the Center for the Study of Philosophy and the Future of Mankind should be an open center, including philosophy, ethics, and science; both Chinese and Western. Explore a more harmonious and sustainable path for mankind.
"Some people say that the only constant in modern society is change, and in the face of such a situation, I hope that humanities scholars and scientists can face it together and point out the way for human development." Lin Jianhua said.
Focus on ethics for robotics and biotechnology
Wang Bo, Vice President of Peking University, introduced that the Research Center for Philosophy and the Future of Mankind (CPFH) aims to use the comprehensive advantages of Peking University's multidisciplinary comprehensive advantages to form a scientific research community with interdisciplinary arts and medicines through the synergy and cooperation of scholars of philosophy and other humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and policy-making institutions, based on the profound accumulation of philosophy and related humanities and social sciences of Peking University, reflecting on the theoretical and ethical basis of cutting-edge science and technology, looking forward to the problems faced by future society and exploring their solutions. In this way, we will promote the construction of future-oriented humanities and talent teams.
The main research direction of the research center in the early stage of its establishment has also been determined, Wang Bo introduced, mainly for the study of ethical norms for artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology, around the concept of "intelligence" cross-liberal arts basic research, around the concept of "life" cross-liberal arts basic research, for philosophy and related humanities digital humanities research, as well as participating in the development of national ethics norms and regulations in the field of artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology.
"Philosophy, in a fundamental sense, guards a reflection on modern life. Therefore, it not only means thinking about the rational foundation of modern civilization, but also means reflecting on the various tensions, various fractures, and various contradictions that the current society itself must contain. Zhang Shuangli, deputy dean of the School of Philosophy of Fudan University, said, "Today, artificial intelligence and life sciences are indeed about to profoundly change the structure of modern society, and when they profoundly change the way of life and action of modern people, they must be reconstructed, which is the significance of the establishment of this research center." ”
"Political Affairs" (WeChat ID: xjbzse) written by Li Yukun