The 15 Main Problems in Current Philosophy by Prof. Yucong Duan

Yucong Duan

International Standardization Committee of Networked DIKWP for Artificial Intelligence Evaluation(DIKWP-SC)

World Artificial Consciousness CIC(WAC)

World Conference on Artificial Consciousness(WCAC)

(Email: duanyucong@hotmail.com)

Current philosophy grapples with several complex and interrelated problems, reflecting challenges in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, and other areas. Some of the main problems include:

1. The Mind-Body Problem: How can physical processes in the brain give rise to conscious experiences? This problem focuses on understanding the relationship between mental phenomena (thoughts, emotions, consciousness) and physical states (brain activity). The debate includes dualist, physicalist, and panpsychist perspectives, but no definitive solution has emerged.

2. The Hard Problem of Consciousness: Coined by philosopher David Chalmers, the "hard problem" concerns explaining why and how subjective experiences arise from neural processes. While cognitive science has made progress in understanding the brain, explaining the qualitative, subjective aspect of consciousness (qualia) remains a significant challenge.

3. Free Will vs. Determinism: The question of whether humans have free will or if our actions are determined by factors like biology, environment, and past experiences continues to be debated. The implications of this debate affect moral responsibility and the foundations of law, ethics, and society.

4. Ethical Relativism vs. Objective Morality: Can moral principles be universally valid, or are they culturally relative? While some argue for universal ethical standards (such as human rights), others contend that morality is context-dependent, and what is considered "right" or "wrong" varies across societies and historical periods.

5. The Nature of Truth: Philosophers debate whether truth is objective and discoverable or whether it is a social construct influenced by language, culture, and power dynamics. Questions arise about whether truth is correspondence with reality, coherence within a system of beliefs, or a product of pragmatic utility.

6. The Problem of Skepticism: Skepticism questions whether we can truly know anything about the world, given the possibility of error, illusion, or deception (e.g., the "brain in a vat" thought experiment or Descartes' evil demon scenario). The challenge is to find a secure foundation for knowledge that overcomes these doubts.

7. The Problem of Induction: Introduced by David Hume, this problem questions whether inductive reasoning (generalizing from specific observations) is justified. Since induction cannot be proven deductively, the challenge is how to justify scientific reasoning, which relies heavily on induction to predict future events based on past patterns.

8. Realism vs. Anti-Realism: In metaphysics and epistemology, the debate over realism versus anti-realism asks whether entities like universals, numbers, or moral values exist independently of our minds or are constructed by human thought and language. This has implications for debates about the existence of abstract objects and whether scientific theories describe reality or merely useful models.

9. The Meaning of Life: Philosophers continue to explore the question of life’s purpose, especially in an age of scientific advancement, secularization, and existential challenges. The tension between subjective meaning (individual purpose) and objective meaning (if such a thing exists) remains a central issue in existential philosophy.

10. The Role of Technology and AI: With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, philosophy must grapple with questions about the nature of human identity, the ethics of AI, and the potential risks of machine consciousness or superintelligence. The debate extends to transhumanism, the potential merging of humans and machines, and the consequences for society and individual autonomy.

11. Political and Social Justice: Issues around inequality, rights, identity, and power are central to contemporary political philosophy. Philosophers explore questions about the best ways to structure societies, the distribution of resources, and how to reconcile freedom with equality, particularly in the context of global capitalism, climate change, and mass migration.

12. Philosophy of Language: The relationship between language and reality continues to be explored. The work of philosophers like Ludwig Wittgenstein raised questions about the limits of language, the nature of meaning, and how language shapes our understanding of the world. The "Language Game Paradox" remains an unresolved issue, with competing theories on how language reflects or constructs reality.

13. Identity and Self: Discussions focus on what constitutes personal identity over time, especially in light of psychological and neurological research. This includes considerations of memory, consciousness, and the self.

14. The Limits of Science: Debates continue over what science can explain and whether there are aspects of reality that lie beyond scientific inquiry. This includes discussions on the nature of consciousness and subjective experience.

15. Environmental Ethics: With growing concerns about climate change and sustainability, philosophers examine our moral obligations to the environment, non-human animals, and future generations.

These problems reflect ongoing tensions in philosophical thought, with no single area reaching a definitive consensus. Instead, they fuel ongoing inquiry and interdisciplinary engagement, particularly as new scientific, technological, and cultural developments introduce novel challenges for philosophical reflection.