Value inheritance: the transmission of values through cognitive extenders.
This paper explores the cognitive and ethical implications of cognitive extenders—tools that become integral to human cognition by functioning as part of the mind itself. Building on the Extended Mind Thesis, which posits that cognition extends beyond the brain to incorporate external aids, I argue...
| Publicado en: | Synthese Vol. 206; no. 3; pp. 1 - 22 |
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| Formato: | Artículo |
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Springer Nature
Sep2025
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=187875991&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 187875991 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00397857 4LI jtl: Synthese issn: 00397857 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Sep2025 vid: 206 iid: 3 pid: 237 pub: Springer Nature artinfo: ui: 187875991 10.1007/s11229-025-05235-9 ppf: 1 ppct: 21 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 945KB tig: atl: Value inheritance: the transmission of values through cognitive extenders. aug: au: Gagnier, Helena affil: https://ror.org/03dbr7087 Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada sug: keyword: AI extenders Ethics of AI Extended mind Human-technology interaction Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology Cognitive Sciences Philosophy and Religious Studies Philosophy Societal impact of AI Technology and values ab: This paper explores the cognitive and ethical implications of cognitive extenders—tools that become integral to human cognition by functioning as part of the mind itself. Building on the Extended Mind Thesis, which posits that cognition extends beyond the brain to incorporate external aids, I argue that cognitive extenders, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) tools, can embed and transmit values to users through a process I call “value inheritance.” By examining the relationship between cognition and value-laden technology, I propose that if a technology becomes a cognitive extender, its embedded values may influence the user’s mental content. I show that technological tools are not neutral; they carry values that can affect users’ beliefs and behaviours. Specifically, I examine AI extenders—such as decision-making assistants and language models—that seamlessly integrate with users, potentially embedding biases and societal norms in subtle, unconscious ways. This raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding the role of AI developers and policymakers in designing tools that prioritize ethical considerations. The paper concludes with a discussion of the ethical stakes in AI design, emphasizing the need for transparency, responsible development, and alignment with societal values to mitigate the risks of unintentional value inheritance. Understanding this potential for value-laden cognitive influence is essential for navigating the ethical landscape of AI technology. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Synthese is a copyright of Springer, 2025. All Rights Reserved. item: Synthese holder: Springer Nature dt: @attributes: year: 2025 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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