Introduction to Global Perspectives on Animism and Autonomous Technologies
摘要
In 1797 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), famous poet, writer, naturalist and scientist, wrote a poem that could be interpreted as a fantastic anticipation of the dangers of technological development and, in particular the development of so-called Artificial Intelligence” (AI) and autonomous technology with particular attention paid to the entanglements between these autonomous technologies and their human users. The poem is titled Der Zauberlehrling (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). In 1940 the poem experienced a revival in a slightly different form for a broader audience in Walt Disney’s animation movie Fantasia with Mickey Mouse as the protagonist and sorcerer’s apprentice. The story is as follows: