AI rule and a fundamental objection to epistocracy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20397121 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sean Donahue (0000-0002-1533-1502, Australian National University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 4105-4117 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | AI & Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0951-5666 • E-ISSN: 1435-5655 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00146-024-02175-9 |
| OpenAlex | W4406956709 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 33 |
Epistocracy is rule by whoever is more likely to make correct decisions. AI epistocracy is rule by an artificial intelligence that is more likely to make correct decisions than any humans, individually or collectively. I argue that although various objections have been raised against epistocracy, the most popular do not apply to epistocracy organized around AI rule. I use this result to show that epistocracy is fundamentally flawed because none of its forms provide adequate opportunity for people (as opposed to individuals) to develop a record of meaningful moral achievement. This Collective Moral Achievement Objection provides a novel reason to value democracy. It also provides guidance on how we ought to incorporate digital technologies into politics, regardless of how proficient these technologies may become at identifying correct decisions
Art · Epistemology · Performing arts · Visual arts · Computer Science · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Philosophy
The life and times of liberal democracy
The Concept of Representation
An Epistemic Theory of Democracy
National Self-determination
You want to give a good impression? Be honest! Moral traits dominate group impression formation
Democratic Reason
Democratic Authority
Against Democracy
The Value of Self-Determination
Do Democratic Societies Have a Right to Do Wrong?
Limited Epistocracy and Political Inclusion
Machine learning and power relations
Algorithmic augmentation of democracy
Identity as a Source of Moral Motivation
Narrative Politics
Less Democracy
The Threat of Algocracy
Legitimacy
Collective Social Identity
Demographic Objections to Epistocracy
The Possibility of Democratic Autonomy
Achievement, wellbeing, and value
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |