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Machines & Meaning

Machines & Meaning

Written by: Angel Evan
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 Machines & Meaning examines artificial intelligence through the lens of different philosophers to understand how AI technology shapes human experience. Created for curious, thoughtful people who want to move beyond simplistic "AI is good" or "AI is bad" narratives, each episode takes a key concept from a philosopher and uses it to examine a specific aspect of AI technology and its impact on human life. While the show assumes listeners are familiar with current AI developments, it doesn't require technical knowledge. The series aims to help listeners develop a deeper understanding of how these technologies are changing how we think, behave, and relate to one another by bringing philosophical insights into conversation with modern AI developments.© 2024 Angel Evan Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Ibn Khaldun’s Warning: When Tools Become Purposes

    Ibn Khaldun’s Warning: When Tools Become Purposes
    Dec 22 2025

    Episode Description: Using Ibn Khaldun’s concept of asabiyyah (ah-sa-BEE-yah), a word derived from Arabic that roughly translates to tribal solidarity or social cohesion, we examine how AI is being rhetorically elevated to the status of collective purpose.
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    12 mins
  • Credibility Deficits: Miranda Fricker and the Illusion of AI Literacy

    Credibility Deficits: Miranda Fricker and the Illusion of AI Literacy
    Nov 11 2025

    Using Miranda Fricker’s concept of testimonial injustice, we examine how AI creates new hierarchies of who gets taken seriously and how the credibility we assign (or don’t) affect people’s lives.
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    15 mins
  • AI’s Aesthetic Trap: Søren Kierkegaard’s Three Spheres of Existence

    AI’s Aesthetic Trap: Søren Kierkegaard’s Three Spheres of Existence
    Oct 13 2025

    Exploring how Kierkegaard’s three spheres of existence reveal why AI might be creating the most sophisticated trap for authentic human development by appearing to create fulfillment while preventing genuine growth.
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    15 mins
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