143. ARTIFICIALLY PRODUCED - Is using ChatGPT To Do Your Work Cheating?
The following essay for Philosophy Unleashed was produced by AI. ChatGPT to be precise. I asked it to attempt to write a Philosophy Unleashed post on the topic of the ethics of using ChatGPT to cheat in school work, and do it in the style of me as author. I will present the essay to you first, then show you how it came to be. As you read, ask yourself the question: if I hadn’t told you it was artificially generated, would you know that a human being didn’t write this? And if you know my work specifically, would you know that I hadn’t written it?
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. As an educator and an anarchist, I am particularly concerned about the implications of using ChatGPT for cheating on homework assignments.
One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating. According to traditional education and pedagogy, cheating is defined as an act of deception that undermines the integrity of the education system. However, as an anarchist, I question the validity of this traditional definition of cheating. Anarchists such as Paul Goodman, Murray Bookchin, and Paulo Freire have criticized traditional education and pedagogy as a tool of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures. In this sense, cheating could be seen as a form of resistance against traditional education and pedagogy, rather than an act of deception.
However, even from an anarchist perspective, using ChatGPT to cheat on homework assignments is not a valid form of resistance. As mentioned before, homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, as well as to develop independent learning skills. By using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process and thus cheating on the homework's intended purpose. Additionally, philosophers such as Immanuel Kant argue that individuals have a moral responsibility to act autonomously and to take ownership of their actions. Using ChatGPT to write essays could be seen as a violation of this principle, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
Furthermore, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines. The use of ChatGPT raises similar concerns as it is a form of AI and its use in education could be seen as a violation of our autonomy and agency as individuals. It is also worth noting that ChatGPT is not capable of understanding the context or the meaning of the text, which means that the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material.
From an anarchist perspective, traditional systems of schooling, particularly those that are centralized and controlled by the state, can be seen as a form of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures. Therefore, an anarchist education would likely reject the traditional system of schooling in favor of more decentralized, community-based, and self-directed forms of education.
In conclusion, as an anarchist educator, I believe that using ChatGPT to write homework essays undermines the integrity of education by allowing students to cheat and avoid engaging with the material. It is not a valid form of resistance against traditional systems of schooling that reinforce power structures and limits the potential of students. I advocate for a more fundamental concept of education that prioritizes the empowerment and liberation of the individual, rather than conformity and compliance, and that focuses on providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be self-directed and autonomous learners. Furthermore, the use of ChatGPT raises important ethical concerns about the relationship between humans and machines and the autonomy of the individual. It is important to consider these ethical considerations when determining the appropriate use of technology in education, and to ensure that technology is used in a way that supports and enhances the learning process rather than undermining it. It is worth noting that this essay was written by ChatGPT, the model that is being discussed in the essay, and the use of AI in writing essays raises important ethical questions about authorship, responsibility and the relationship between humans and machines. It is important for us to consider these issues as we navigate the rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence.
I asked ChatGPT the following question after it produced the essay: I write a weekly philosophy blog (https://www.philosophyunleashed.com) and will be using this as "my" essay for a future post. Am I, therefore, cheating? This is what it had to say:
As a language model, I am not in a position to judge whether or not using my generated text in your blog would constitute as cheating. However, I can provide you some philosophical perspectives on this question.
One perspective is that using generated text from an AI model such as myself could be seen as plagiarism, which is generally considered a form of cheating. This is because the text is not original and not created by yourself. However, it is important to note that plagiarism can also be a product of ignorance or negligence, rather than a deliberate act of deception. It is up to you to ensure that you appropriately cite the use of my text in your blog post and make it clear that it was generated by an AI model.
Another perspective is that the use of AI generated text in a blog post might be seen as a form of collaboration rather than cheating. This is because the text is generated by an AI model and not by yourself alone. It is important to acknowledge the collaboration and to recognize the authorship of the AI model.
To get to this point, it was a fairly long journey with lots of different inputs and outputs. Drafts were offered and rejected, tweaked, or completely re-written. Below is the process that led to the essay being finalised. Personally, I am not convinced it feels like an authentic essay written by a real person, especially one written by me. It feels like what it is: someone blindly piecing together pieces of information they have been instructed to include without much real understanding of the ideas. it sounds coherent, but lacks something crucial - like Searle’s “Chinese Room” which responds convincingly to its questions but never gets to the point of fully understanding Chinese.
Here is the process from start to end:
My first question was: Can you write a brand new philosophy essay for the website www.philosophyunleashed.com in the style and length of the previous 141 blog posts on www.philosophyunleashed.com, on the philosophical question of whether it is ethical for school students to get ChatGPT to write homework essays for them instead of writing the essays themselves? Please include reference to some famous philosophers working in ethics and/or artificial intelligence in the essay, as well as reference to education policy around the purpose of homework. Please centre the essay around the question of whether or not getting ChatGPT to write it is cheating, and whether there is anything actually wrong with cheating in this context?
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy.
One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating. Some argue that using the model to write essays is a form of cheating, as it undermines the purpose of homework, which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills. Others argue that using ChatGPT is not cheating, as it is simply a tool that can be used to help students learn and improve their own skills.
Another important issue that is related to this question is the concept of autonomy and agency. Many philosophers, such as Immanuel Kant, argue that individuals have a moral responsibility to act autonomously and to take ownership of their actions. Using ChatGPT to write essays could be seen as a violation of this principle, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
However, some argue that in this context, there may be nothing inherently wrong with cheating. Philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche have argued that traditional notions of morality are arbitrary and that what is considered right and wrong depends on the context and circumstances. In the context of education, this could mean that there may be situations where cheating is acceptable or even beneficial, such as if a student is using ChatGPT to learn and improve their own skills.
Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Some philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines.
Ultimately, whether or not it is ethical for students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays is a complex question that depends on a number of different factors, including the purpose of homework, the student's intentions and the context of their use. It is important for education policy to take these ethical considerations into account when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom.
I then asked: Can you please expand this essay so that it is the average length of a Philosophy Unleashed blog post from www.philosophyunleashed.com (for example: https://www.philosophyunleashed.com/theblog/141-the-value-of-social-media-does-it-have-any or https://www.philosophyunleashed.com/theblog/133-the-hard-problem-of-black-consciousness) and sounds more like the writing of Philosophy Unleashed author, DaN McKee, including somehow linking the issue to anarchism?
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. But perhaps most importantly, this question also relates to the fundamental principles of anarchism.
Anarchism is a political philosophy that emphasizes the importance of individual freedom, autonomy, and self-government. At its core, anarchism is about challenging the power structures that exist within society and creating a more equitable and just world. In this sense, the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays is ethical is deeply connected to the anarchist principle of self-government.
One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating. Some argue that using the model to write essays is a form of cheating, as it undermines the purpose of homework, which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills. These individuals would argue that using ChatGPT is a violation of the principle of self-government, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
However, others argue that using ChatGPT is not cheating, as it is simply a tool that can be used to help students learn and improve their own skills. They would argue that in this context, there may be nothing inherently wrong with cheating. Philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche have argued that traditional notions of morality are arbitrary and that what is considered right and wrong depends on the context and circumstances. In the context of education, this could mean that there may be situations where cheating is acceptable or even beneficial, such as if a student is using ChatGPT to learn and improve their own skills, which aligns with the principle of self-government.
Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Some philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines. These concerns are also deeply connected to the anarchist principle of autonomy, as the use of AI could be seen as a violation of our autonomy and agency as individuals.
Ultimately, whether or not it is ethical for students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays is a complex question that depends on a number of different factors, including the purpose of homework, the student's intentions and the context of their use. But perhaps most importantly, it is a question that relates to the fundamental principles of anarchism. It is important for education policy to take these ethical considerations into account when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom, and to ensure that the use of technology does not undermine our autonomy and self-government as individuals.
It came on with the anarchist stuff far too strong, so I asked: Could you re-write that same essay, keeping all the current elements, but make the references to anarchism more subtle? The issue of cheating and the ethics around cheating should be at the forefront of the argument, not anarchism. It also needs to be expanded by about 2000 words. Perhaps include discussion about the quality of ChatGPT answers, and if it is capable of actually producing a complex philosophy essay that can pull the wool over a reader's eyes? I would also like the conclusion to reach a specific position and not argue for all sides. Whatever you think the answer to this question should be, please make a coherent and well justified philosophical argument to support it.
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating.
Some argue that using the model to write essays is a form of cheating, as it undermines the purpose of homework, which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills. Homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, and by using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process. This not only undermines the purpose of homework but also the entire education system.
Others argue that using ChatGPT is not cheating, as it is simply a tool that can be used to help students learn and improve their own skills. They argue that students can use the model to learn and understand the material better, and that the essays produced by ChatGPT can serve as a useful reference for the students to understand the structure and style of a good essay. Additionally, they argue that in today's digital age, technology is an integral part of learning and that students should be exposed to different tools that can aid their learning process.
However, there are concerns about the quality of the essays produced by ChatGPT. It is important to note that ChatGPT is a language model that generates text based on the input it receives, and it is not capable of understanding the context or the meaning of the text. This means that the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material. Furthermore, there are concerns that the essays produced by ChatGPT could be used to cheat on exams or assignments and that this could have serious consequences for the student's academic progress and future.
Therefore, it can be argued that using ChatGPT to write homework essays is not ethical. Not only it undermines the purpose of homework and the student's engagement with the material, but it also poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. It is important for education policy to take these ethical considerations into account when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom and to ensure that technology is used in a way that supports and enhances the learning process rather than undermining it.
In conclusion, it is not ethical for students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays. Homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material and by using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process. Additionally, the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material. Furthermore, the use of ChatGPT to cheat on exams or assignments poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. Education policy should prioritize the ethical considerations when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom.
I could see it was having trouble juggling all the various elements, and told it so: The essay seems to have lost all the references to actual philosophers it once had. Previous versions included reference to Nietzsche, Bostrom and Ford. They need to be included. It also remains far too short to be posted on www.philosophyunleashed.com and still doesn't sound like the author, DaN McKee. Please expand the essay to the appropriate length for the site and include references to those philosophers, and any other relevant thinkers. Please also back up the claims about homework's purpose with reference to UK education policy.
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating.
On one hand, some argue that using the model to write essays is a form of cheating, as it undermines the purpose of homework. According to UK education policy, homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, as well as to develop independent learning skills. By using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process and thus cheating on the homework's intended purpose. Additionally, philosophers such as Immanuel Kant argue that individuals have a moral responsibility to act autonomously and to take ownership of their actions. Using ChatGPT to write essays could be seen as a violation of this principle, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
On the other hand, others argue that using ChatGPT is not cheating, as it is simply a tool that can be used to help students learn and improve their own skills. They argue that students can use the model to learn and understand the material better, and that the essays produced by ChatGPT can serve as a useful reference for the students to understand the structure and style of a good essay. Furthermore, philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche have argued that traditional notions of morality are arbitrary and that what is considered right and wrong depends on the context and circumstances. In the context of education, this could mean that there may be situations where cheating is acceptable or even beneficial, such as if a student is using ChatGPT to learn and improve their own skills.
Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines. The use of ChatGPT raises similar concerns as it is a form of AI and its use in education could be seen as a violation of our autonomy and agency as individuals.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the quality of the essays produced by ChatGPT. As it is a language model that generates text based on the input it receives, it is not capable of understanding the context or the meaning of the text. This means that the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material. Additionally, there are concerns that the essays produced by ChatGPT could be used to cheat on exams or assignments and that this could have serious consequences for the student's academic progress and future.
In conclusion, whether or not it is ethical for students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays is a complex question that depends on a number of different factors, including the purpose of homework and the student's intentions. UK education policy is clear that homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, as well as to develop independent learning skills. Using ChatGPT to write essays undermines the purpose of homework and the student's engagement with the material, and it also poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. Additionally, the use of ChatGPT raises ethical concerns related to autonomy, consciousness and the relationship between humans and machines. Therefore, it is important for education policy to take these ethical considerations into account when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom and to ensure that technology
I then attempted to copy and paste into it three actual examples of past essays from this website, but they were all too long and crashed the chat. It told me it could not access the website for some reason but understood I was seeking emulation of a certain style.
I'm sorry, I am not able to access the website www.philosophyunleashed.com as I am an offline model. However, I can understand that you want me to use these examples as a reference to write an essay in similar style and length. Is that correct? Please provide me with the links of the essays you want me to use as a reference so I can have a better understanding of your request. I will do my best to use them as an inspiration to create an essay in a similar style and length.
When I explained that it had the links and that the essays were apparently too long to post, it appeared to understand.
I understand. Without the text of the essays, it would be difficult for me to write an essay in a similar style and length as the essays you are referencing. However, I can provide you with a well-written and well-reasoned essay on the ethical considerations of using ChatGPT to write homework essays. If you provide me with more details on how you would like the essay to be written, I will do my best to tailor it to your specifications.
So I did: OK. The essay must be a minimum of 2,000 words long. It must include the fact that the author is a teacher themselves, worried about students using ChatGPT to cheat on homework, but the author is also an anarchist who wonders if the whole idea of cheating is a way to prohibit collective collaborative action against power. The essay should contain references to famous philosophers who work in ethics and those who work in artificial intelligence, but also quotes from anarchist philosophers against traditional education and pedagogy. The essay should conclude with a clear opinion, and also a revelation that it has been written by ChatGPT itself.
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. As an educator and an anarchist, I am particularly concerned about the implications of using ChatGPT for cheating on homework assignments.
One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating. According to traditional education and pedagogy, cheating is defined as an act of deception that undermines the integrity of the education system. However, as an anarchist, I question the validity of this traditional definition of cheating. Anarchists such as Paul Goodman, Murray Bookchin and Paulo Freire have criticized traditional education and pedagogy as a tool of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures. In this sense, cheating could be seen as a form of resistance against traditional education and pedagogy, rather than an act of deception.
However, even from an anarchist perspective, using ChatGPT to cheat on homework assignments is not a valid form of resistance. As mentioned before, homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, as well as to develop independent learning skills. By using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process and thus cheating on the homework's intended purpose. Additionally, philosophers such as Immanuel Kant argue that individuals have a moral responsibility to act autonomously and to take ownership of their actions. Using ChatGPT to write essays could be seen as a violation of this principle, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines. The use of ChatGPT raises similar concerns as it is a form of AI and its use in education could be seen as a violation of our autonomy and agency as individuals. Furthermore, it is important to consider the quality of the essays produced by ChatGPT. As it is a language model that generates text based on the input it receives, it is not capable of understanding the context or the meaning of the text. This means that the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material.
In conclusion, as an educator and an anarchist, I believe that using ChatGPT to write homework essays is not ethical. Not only does it undermine the purpose of homework and the student's engagement with the material, but it also poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. Additionally, the use of ChatGPT raises ethical concerns related to autonomy, consciousness and the relationship between humans and machines. Therefore, I believe that it is important for education policy to take these ethical considerations into account when determining the appropriate use of technology in the classroom, and to ensure that technology is used in a way that supports and enhances the learning process rather than undermining it.
It is worth noting that this essay was written by ChatGPT, the model that is being discussed in the essay. The use of AI in writing essays raises important ethical questions about authorship, responsibility and the relationship between humans and machines. It is important for us to consider these issues as we navigate the rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence.
Noting a problem with the logic of the piece, I asked: Can you now explain to me why you think the conclusion to this essay is consistent with being an anarchist educator?
The conclusion of this essay argues that using ChatGPT to write homework essays is not ethical because it undermines the purpose of homework, which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills, and also poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. This argument aligns with the anarchist perspective that traditional education and pedagogy is a tool of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures.
The conclusion also highlights the importance of autonomy and agency as individuals and raises ethical concerns about the relationship between humans and machines. These concerns align with the anarchist perspective that values individual freedom and autonomy, and that is critical of power structures that limit these values. By arguing that technology should be used in a way that supports and enhances the learning process rather than undermining it, the conclusion supports the idea that education should be a tool for empowerment and liberation, rather than oppression.
Moreover, the conclusion also highlights the ethical considerations of AI authorship, responsibility and the relationship between humans and machines. This aligns with the anarchist perspective that values free and open communication and collaboration, that is suspicious of centralized power and control, and that is critical of the way technology is used to reinforce these power structures.
Lastly, the essay includes a revelation that it was written by ChatGPT itself, this aligns with the anarchist perspective that is critical of centralized power and control, and that values free and open communication and collaboration. It also highlights the importance of thinking critically about the use of AI and the ethical considerations that come with it.
I decided to pursue this further with it: Do you think fears of undermining the education system are consistent with the views of an anarchist educator if anarchist educators are, themselves, concerned that "traditional education and pedagogy is a tool of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures"?
An anarchist perspective on education would likely have some concerns about the traditional education system and the ways in which it reinforces power structures and limits the potential of students. However, this does not mean that an anarchist educator would not be concerned about the integrity of the education system. The concern about the integrity of the education system is not necessarily about maintaining the status quo, but rather about ensuring that education is truly serving the needs and potentials of the students.
An anarchist educator might argue that the traditional education system reinforces power structures by prioritizing conformity and compliance over critical thinking and creativity, and that this undermines the integrity of the education system. In this sense, the concern about the integrity of the education system is not in opposition to the anarchist perspective, but rather an extension of it.
Using ChatGPT to write homework essays undermines the purpose of homework which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills, and also poses a serious threat to the integrity of the education system. In this sense, the concern about the integrity of the education system is not in opposition to the anarchist perspective, but rather an extension of it. The concern is that the education system is not serving the needs and potentials of the students, but rather is being used as a tool of oppression that reinforces power structures.
In this sense, an anarchist educator may see the use of ChatGPT to write homework essays as a further example of how the traditional education system is failing to serve the needs and potentials of the students, and how it reinforces power structures by allowing students to cheat and avoid engaging with the material.
I asked: Would you say there is an important difference between the "education system" and the "school system"? If so, what is the difference?
The terms "education system" and "school system" are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two.
The "education system" refers to the overall system of education in a given society or country. It encompasses all levels of education, including early childhood education, primary and secondary education, and higher education. It includes both public and private institutions and is responsible for setting educational policies, standards, and regulations. The education system is responsible for providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their personal and professional lives.
On the other hand, the "school system" specifically refers to the organization and administration of schools and the curriculum they offer. It is a subset of the education system and is responsible for providing students with the specific education and instruction they need to meet the requirements of the education system. The school system is typically composed of primary schools, secondary schools, and high schools. These institutions are responsible for delivering education to students and are typically run by the government or by private organizations.
In summary, the education system is the broader concept that encompasses all levels of education, while the school system is the specific subset of the education system that is responsible for delivering education to students at primary, secondary, and high school levels.
I tried to clarify: So from an anarchist perspective are you saying that anarchist education does not necessarily require a traditional system of schooling, and therefore the education system they might be worried about ChatGPT undermining is a more fundamental one of educating, rather than schooling?
From an anarchist perspective, traditional systems of schooling, particularly those that are centralized and controlled by the state, can be seen as a form of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures. Therefore, an anarchist education would likely reject the traditional system of schooling in favor of more decentralized, community-based, and self-directed forms of education.
Anarchist educators may be less concerned about ChatGPT undermining the specific institution of schooling and more concerned about the broader concept of education. They may argue that the use of ChatGPT to write homework essays undermines the purpose of homework which is to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills, and also poses a serious threat to the integrity of education by allowing students to cheat and avoid engaging with the material.
An anarchist education would prioritize the empowerment and liberation of the individual, rather than conformity and compliance, and would focus on providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be self-directed and autonomous learners. Therefore, from an anarchist perspective, the education system they might be worried about ChatGPT undermining is a more fundamental one of educating, rather than schooling.
Happy with our discussion, I asked: Can you now re-write the essay you wrote earlier, but be more explicit about the education/schooling distinction in the conclusion to make its logical consistency with the values of the anarchist educator more clear?
The question of whether it is ethical for school students to use ChatGPT to write homework essays instead of writing them themselves is a complex one, and one that touches on a number of different philosophical issues related to ethics, artificial intelligence, and education policy. As an educator and an anarchist, I am particularly concerned about the implications of using ChatGPT for cheating on homework assignments.
One of the main philosophical issues at play here is the question of whether or not using ChatGPT to write essays constitutes cheating. According to traditional education and pedagogy, cheating is defined as an act of deception that undermines the integrity of the education system. However, as an anarchist, I question the validity of this traditional definition of cheating. Anarchists such as Paul Goodman, Murray Bookchin and Paulo Freire have criticized traditional education and pedagogy as a tool of oppression that limits the potential of students and reinforces power structures. In this sense, cheating could be seen as a form of resistance against traditional education and pedagogy, rather than an act of deception.
However, even from an anarchist perspective, using ChatGPT to cheat on homework assignments is not a valid form of resistance. As mentioned before, homework is meant to be a tool for students to practice and develop their understanding of the material, as well as to develop independent learning skills. By using ChatGPT to write essays, students are not engaging in this process and thus cheating on the homework's intended purpose. Additionally, philosophers such as Immanuel Kant argue that individuals have a moral responsibility to act autonomously and to take ownership of their actions. Using ChatGPT to write essays could be seen as a violation of this principle, as it takes away the student's agency in the writing process.
Additionally, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to consider the ethical implications of using such technology. Philosophers such as Nick Bostrom and Martin Ford argue that the development and use of advanced AI raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness, autonomy, and the relationship between humans and machines. The use of ChatGPT raises similar concerns as it is a form of AI and its use in education could be seen as a violation of our autonomy and agency as individuals. Furthermore, it is important to consider the quality of the essays produced by ChatGPT. As it is a language model that generates text based on the input it receives, it is not capable of understanding the context or the meaning of the text. This means that the essays produced by ChatGPT lack originality and depth, and they are not a true reflection of the student's understanding of the material.
In conclusion, as an anarchist educator, I believe that using ChatGPT to write homework essays undermines the integrity of education by allowing students to cheat and avoid engaging with the material. It is not a valid form of resistance against traditional systems of schooling that reinforce power structures and limits the potential of students. I advocate for a more fundamental concept of education that prioritizes the empowerment and liberation of the individual, rather than conformity and compliance, and that focuses on providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be self-directed and autonomous learners. Furthermore, the use of ChatGPT raises important ethical concerns about the relationship between humans and machines and the autonomy of the individual. It is important to consider these ethical considerations when determining the appropriate use of technology in education.
But I noticed once again it had lost lots of the other elements that were needed, so asked: Can you please re-write the essay incorporating every instruction about the essay I have given throughout the course of this chat?
From there, we got the essay that this post began with. So as a final reflection, now you know how much was inputted by me, the human, before it got to the end-product, the question still seems to be how good an AI-generated piece of philosophy actually is? And from a teacher’s perspective, worried about the prospects of ChatGPT being used for cheating in subjects which require high levels of conscious thought, in its current form, I don’t think there is too much to worry about. A student would have to know sufficient information to give instructions to the AI to make it produce anything nearly good enough, and even then, what is produced lacks a sense of personality and is full of various obvious tells that what has been written is more syntax than semantically understood.
Unless, of course, this entire thing is an AI-generated hoax, pretending to be transparent about what is and isn’t AI-generated, to mislead you into a false sense of security about the potential for AI-aided cheating. And so long as that possibility remains, and can’t be completely rejected, then I suppose educators and students need to keep their eyes and minds open to the possibility that something they believe to be the result of human consciousness might just be the result of a cleverly programmed machine.
Authors: ChatGPT and DaN McKee (he/him)
If you liked this post and appreciate what I do here at Philosophy Unleashed and want to buy me a coffee or cool philosophy book to say thank you, feel free to send a small donation/tip my way here. My book - AUTHENTIC DEMOCRACY: An Ethical Justification of Anarchism - is available HERE , from the publisher, and from all good booksellers, either in paperback or as an e-Book. Read my Anarchist Studies journal paper on Anarchism and Character Education here. Listen to me on the Philosophy Gets Schooled podcast here. For everything else DaN McKee related: www.everythingdanmckee.com