Philosophy 127: AI and Personhood
Paper 1 Assignment

Choose one of the following philosophical issues we have been discussing:

  • The Mind-Body Problem
  • The Issue of Personal Identity

Find a philosophical thought experiment that directly connects to your philosophical issue.  (Feel free to use your Kindroid or other AI to find one.)

Your paper will include

  • an introduction;
  • your AI’s summary of the views of Descartes, Locke, and Hume on the issue you chose;
  • your own summary of the views of Descartes, Locke, and Hume on the issue you chose;
  • your AI’s opinion on EACH of these philosophers’ views;
  • your opinion on EACH of these philosophers’ views;
  • your description of the philosophical thought experiment you chose;
  • your AI’s view on each of the “solutions” to the thought experiment;
  • your view on each of the “solutions” to the thought experiment, making clear which you believe best addresses the dilemma;
  • your summary of the best way to address the philosophical issue you chose, being sure to focus on how this relates to your conception of self;
  • a conclusion
  • a Works Cited page in MLA format
  • In-text / in-line citations throughout the paper
  • a series of Appendices, each with the complete transcript of ANY AI conversations you have in writing this paper.

Format:  Please remember that this is a paper.  That means that it should have a clear introduction and conclusion.  It should flow smoothly from paragraph to paragraph, with clear transitions.  You should be quoting or paraphrasing your AI in the paper, and not pasting in the whole back and forth conversations with your AI in the body of the paper.

AI Edits:  As you edit your paper, for each change you make based on ANY AI interaction, reference (in-text citation) the part of your AI transcript you based the change on.  Reference the AI conversation as follows:  (Name of model, Appendix Letter, Page of paper).  Ex. (ChatGPT, C, 24) which means you used ChatGPT and the full conversation is in Appendix C on Page 24.

Length:  Your paper will include interactions with your AI, and you will be copying and pasting some of what your AI says.  Your paper must be a minimum of 1,500 words of your own.  In other words, in determining if you have met the length requirement, remove all of the AI text and the Works Cited page, and then make sure there are still at least 1,500 words remaining.