What can Frankenstein teach us about ToK ?
One of my favourite bits of ToK is the optional theme Knowledge and Technology. Frankenstein is a really useful novel for Knowledge & Technology.
Mary Shelley’s seminal novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," (1818) has become a crucial text in examining the fears and anxieties of humanity being overshadowed or replaced by the rapid growth and development of technology. The novel, written in the 19th century, a period marked by significant scientific and technological advancements, embodies an inherent tension between the arts and the sciences, an apparent tension that we often explore in ToK. This tension also reverberates in our current apprehensions concerning artificial intelligence.
Frankenstein: (V.) brief synopsis
Shelley's tale of Victor Frankenstein, a man consumed by his ambition to bring life to inanimate matter, resonates with contemporary readers through its exploration of unchecked scientific ambition. Victor's success in creating a sentient creature reflects the age-old fear that humanity, in its relentless pursuit of knowledge and control, might overstep its boundaries and bring about unforeseen consequences. We can see discussions of this in ToK in the ethical issues arising from the development of scientific knowledge.
Culture & Context for ToK
During the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was reshaping society and economies, making way for a future characterised by mechanisation and technology. Simultaneously, the Romantic movement emerged, with artists and thinkers emphasising emotion, imagination, and the human connection to nature as a counterweight to the growing prevalence of rationalist science and industry. There's a clear link to ToK here between different ways to approach the production of knowledge: imagination, emotion and subjectivity on the romanticists side versus reason, logic and objectivity on the scientific side. At the danger of reductionism, it could be thought of as AoK The Arts vs AoK The Sciences. It poses questions for the traditional empiricism vs rationalism debate as both empiricism and rationalism are enshrined within the scientific side.
William Blake: a visionary thinker
Let me quickly mention William Blake, one of my favourite romananticists of 19th century England. Check out Blake’s paintings and poetry if you want to get a sense of the 19thC fear of industrialism and science, if you are in London go to The Tate Gallery in Pimlico where you can see Blake’s paintings - for free.
Frankenstein: Sciences vs The Arts?
Back to Frankenstein, in the book Mary Shelley navigates this tension between the arts and sciences masterfully. Victor’s obsession with scientific knowledge and the subsequent creation of the monster, which leads to his ruin, is a manifestation of the fear that the sciences, if not tempered with humane sensibility and the wisdom of the arts, might lead to humanity's downfall.
Shelley uses the narrative to highlight the necessity of empathy, responsibility, and moral judgment in our engagements with technology. Victor's failure isn't his scientific achievement per se but his inability to foresee the ethical implications of his creation and his subsequent refusal to take responsibility for it. This portrayal serves as a powerful critique of a technocratic worldview that values scientific advancement over moral considerations.
Frankenstein and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The connection between Frankenstein's monster and modern concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) is strikingly evident. Like the monster, AI is a product of human ingenuity and ambition. It's a technology capable of learning, evolving, and potentially surpassing human intelligence. This possibility sparks fear and anxiety, similar to those conveyed in Shelley’s novel. These fears revolve around the loss of control over our creation and the potential consequences of an intelligence that could, in theory, exceed our own. This is reflected in the fear of Victor Frankenstein when he realises he has created a being stronger and more resilient than any human.
Frankenstein & The Ethics of knowledge.
Moreover, the ethical dilemmas that AI presents parallel those illustrated in Frankenstein. How should we treat entities that possess, or seem to possess, consciousness? What responsibilities do creators have towards their creations, especially when those creations have the capacity to cause harm?
Just as Shelley's novel represented 19th-century anxieties about industrial technologies, it similarly echoes contemporary concerns about AI. It offers a cautionary tale about the hubris of creation without forethought for consequences and the potential ethical implications of advanced technology. The debates between science and art, rationality and emotion, technological progress and moral responsibility are explored. That debates that Shelley navigated in her time continue to shape our discourse about AI today.
Despite the centuries separating Shelley's context from ours, Frankenstein remains an enduringly relevant narrative. It urges us to grapple with our fears about technology and to engage with the ethical implications of our scientific endeavors. Whether in the form of Frankenstein’s monster, or the spectre of rogue AI, the fear that our creations might overtake us persists. This reminds us of the need to balance our scientific ambitions with our moral responsibilities.
If you’re thinking of exploring the relationship between the arts and science in your ToK Essay or Exhibition, consider looking at Shelley’s Frankenstein. You could also consider Blake’s work or other 18th and 19th century writers and artists.
If you’re looking for extra help with your ToK Essay or Exhibition we have loads of resources to help you. If you're working on the ToK Exhibition be sure to check out the ever popular e-book Every ToK Exhibition Prompt explained.