Dual-Nature Intelligence: The Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence from the Perspective of Dao-Er Ontology

The iterative evolution of artificial intelligence, from symbolism to generative AI, poses fundamental challenges to the essence of intelligence, the concept of subjectivity, and human–machine relations. Traditional philosophies of artificial intelligence, constrained by computationalism and representationalism, fall into the monistic dilemma of simplistic reduction. They either equate intelligence with logical computation or regard it as a passive emergence of neural connection, failing to account for the generative and relational nature of intelligence. Based on the Dao-Er ontology, this paper reconstructs the view of intelligence and proposes the theory of dual-nature intelligence. Intelligence is neither an isolated attribute of entities nor a single computational process, but the dynamic generation and dialectical unity of dual relations. It systematically analyzes the inherent dual structures of symbolism, connectionism and generative AI, and clarifies the dual essence of human–machine collaboration. On this basis, it constructs a balanced framework of AI ethics and an ontological foundation for human–machine coexistence. The theory of dual-nature intelligence breaks the monistic limitations of traditional AI philosophy, and provides a brand-new theoretical framework integrating Eastern wisdom and practical explanatory power for the philosophical interpretation, ethical norms and future coexistence of humans and artificial intelligence.