[Note: this was re-released, and it fixes Casey's audio. Content remains unchanged.]
Welcome back to Philosophy Programs and Prompts! In this episode, Casey ( @OntologyExplained ) and Carl ( @InternetOfBugs ) dive into AI Virtue Ethics. Instead of debating whether AI is trained ethically or if it will one day become a sentient deity, we focus on the grounded reality of today: How does using generative AI actually shape our character as human beings? We explore the classic frameworks of normative ethics—deontology, consequentialism, and Aristotle's "Golden Mean"—to evaluate our daily interactions with tech. From the clear benefits of AI accessibility tools and coding "spikes" to the risks of skill atrophy, resume signal collapse, and "AI slop", we break down where AI acts as a genuine superpower versus where it becomes a lazy crutch. How do we maintain our unique human voice and critical thinking without becoming anti-tech "old men yelling at clouds"? Tune in for a thoughtful, practical discussion on navigating AI without losing your mind—or your virtues.More info about Casey:https://CaseyHart.com/More info about Carl:https://InternetOfBugs.com/00:00 - Cold Open: The Danger of Erotic Chatbots00:21 - Introduction & Defining AI Virtue Ethics01:23 - Ethical Frameworks: Deontology, Consequentialism & Virtue03:34 - What We're NOT Covering: Training Data & Sentient AI05:30 - The Virtues of AI: Lowering Barriers & Accessibility08:17 - Meeting Notes & The Risk of Brain Atrophy12:14 - Tools as Crutches: Calculators, Handwriting & Memory15:48 - The Cheating Epidemic & Skill Muscles in Education18:28 - Beginners vs. Experts: Extreme Programming & "Spikes"22:00 - The Vices of AI: Laziness, Plagiarism & Procrastination25:56 - Logical Fallacies: Appeal to Tradition vs. Novelty27:23 - Dark Side: Fraud, Deepfakes & Interpersonal Mediation29:18 - Signal Collapse: Resumes, Bug Reports & Disinformation34:56 - The Model Collapse Cycle & Curation in the Arts37:41 - Practical Solutions: Reflective Use & Marking AI Content42:05 - Aristotle’s Golden Mean: Finding the Sweet Spot45:00 - Chatbot Sycophancy vs. Human Originality47:27 - Outro: Don't Become AI Slop#VirtueEthics #PhilosophyOfAI #AIEthics #TechReality #SoftwareEngineering #AISlop #PhilosophyProgramsAndPrompts