SERJ

Sequel Education and Research Journal

Identity and Alienation in Postcolonial Fiction: A Comparative Analysis of Selected Novels

Ramesh K

Assistant Professor, Dr. G. Shankar Govt. Women’s First Grade College & PG Study Centre, Ajjarkad, Udupi, Karnataka, India.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Ethics, Human-Machine Interaction (HMI), Moral Agency, Algorithmic Transparency, Applied Philosophy

Abstract

This research paper investigates the profound ethical and philosophical implications arising from the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into everyday human affairs. As autonomous systems, predictive models, and conversational agents transition from theoretical computer science to foundational infrastructure, they create a significant accountability vacuum. Opaque algorithmic decision-making, automated bias, and the diffusion of moral responsibility across complex sociotechnical networks challenge traditional paradigms of human agency and freedom. Employing a qualitative, analytical, and conceptual philosophical framework, the study evaluates machine intelligence through classical normative theories— including Kantian deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics—while contrasting them with contemporary perspectives on machine ethics and distributed agency. The core findings indicate that intelligent systems function strictly as moral patients rather than authentic moral agents, leaving ultimate ethical liability exclusively in human hands. The inherent black-box nature of deep learning architectures contradicts demands for transparent, rational interaction. Ultimately, the study argues that technology is never value-neutral. Addressing these challenges requires embedding multi-stakeholder philosophical oversight directly into the software development life cycle. Bridging the gap between probabilistic computing and human values ensures that innovation preserves dignity, autonomy, and robust accountability.

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