Technology, Intelligence, and the Dialectics of Human Flourishing

This essay re-examines Artificial Intelligence (AI) not as an inherent intelligence, but as a contemporary manifestation of techne—a human capacity for skilled creation and self-realization. Drawing parallels with ancient Greek philosophical concepts of techne and Indian traditions of buddhi (awakened intelligence), the essay argues that AI serves as a catalyst for human flourishing by enabling a deeper understanding and realization of intelligence. It posits that the pursuit of intelligence inherently involves dismantling "unintelligence," a structural condition perpetuating societal inequalities and hindering collective progress. By fostering co-intelligence and non-violence, AI can accelerate humanity's dialectical journey towards emancipation, echoing cyclical understandings of time where each technological advancement enriches the re-emergence of intelligence. Ultimately, AI is presented as a luminous signpost on the path to humanity's full realization of intelligence, emphasizing its role in ethical societal transformation.