Ethics of Intelligence: From Embryogenesis to Onto-Politics

This paper explores the intersections of intelligence, ethics, and ontological frameworks by examining a wide range of perspectives, from ancient to contemporary, bridging Sāṃkhya philosophy and its reverberations in Eastern thought with modern post-humanist narratives on intelligence. It engages with key concepts such as computationalism, pancomputationalism, bioinformation theory, the free energy principle, semantic intelligence, biointelligence, and the subtle ontology of incorporeal intelligence. The study culminates in an analysis of Ronald Ruyer’s concept of embryogenesis and Elizabeth Grosz’s theory of onto-ethics, alongside Sāṃkhya epistemology, suggesting that intelligence is not only a cognitive force but also a source of ethical and political frameworks, specifically onto-ethics and onto-politics. Ruyer’s vision of embryogenesis, governed by incorporeal intelligence, challenges materialist and reductionist models, highlighting intelligence as a holistic, non-localized force that transcends mechanistic explanations. Grosz extends this argument into the realms of ethics and politics, proposing that intelligence is inherently ethical and resistant to injustice, forming the foundation of her theories on onto-ethics and onto-politics. The paper draws parallels between Ruyer’s embryogenesis and the Vedantic concept of Hiraṇyagarbha, the golden womb, presenting both as dynamic, immanent sources of creation and intelligence. This evolving ethical framework mirrors the Indian concept of Dharma, which, like Grosz's onto-ethics, is adaptive and responsive to the ever-changing conditions of existence. Sāṃkhya philosophy, identifying intelligence as an active, incorporeal force (Ciṭ), aligns with these ideas, emphasizing the transformative journey from sensory-bound mind (manas) to higher intelligence (buddhi). The paper argues that intelligence is not static or confined to computational models but an evolving, pluripotent force deeply embedded in life processes, transcending the boundaries of cognition and computation. This critique of pancomputationalism offers an alternative vision of intelligence as a dynamic phenomenon that unfolds through interactions within and beyond biological systems.