Artificial Morality: An Exploration of Moral Machines is an exploration of the ethical and philosophical challenges in developing artificial intelligence systems capable of moral reasoning and behaviour. Bridging centuries of philosophical debate with analyses of large language models, this book examines how shifting conceptions of human identity and the evolution of technology shape our understanding of morality. It critiques anthropocentric views of ethical agency while proposing innovative frameworks for aligning AI with diverse human values. Through a deep dive into the technical architectures of current AI systems, discussions on machine consciousness, and the risks posed by autonomous systems, Andrei Nutas charts a path for embedding principles like fairness, privacy, and accountability into future intelligent machines. This study concludes by advocating for the nurturing of machine wisdom, guided by universal principles that transcend rigid exceptionalism, ultimately aiming to foster a more compassionate and equitable future for all sentient beings.



Andrei Nutas holds a PhD in AI ethics and philosophy from the West University of Timisoara. He is currently a research assistant at the Center for Advanced Environmental Studies, West University of Timisoara and a member of the Value Connection work group housed by Delft University, Netherlands. Andrei Nutas also works as a Lead AI Assurance Engineer. His research interests include AI ethics, sustainability ethics, posthumanism, and transhumanism.



CHAPTER 1. Technogenesis The Nature of Technology Language and Human Exceptionalism Technology and the Two Modernities Machine Ethics in an Augmented World CHAPTER 2. A Brief History of AI Knowledge-Based Systems AI Winters Neural Networks and Machine Learning CHAPTER 3. Philosophical Debates Surrounding AI Searl's Chinese Room: Dualism vs. Materialism Symbolic vs. Sub-Symbolic Approaches Weak vs. Strong AI The Nature of Creativity and Free Will The Ethics and Risks of AI CHAPTER 4. Large Language Model: Technology and Capabilities A Technical Explanation of Large Language Models Capabilities of Large Language Models CHAPTER 5. Philosophical and Ethical Challenges of Large Language Models (LLMs) CHAPTER 6. Artificial Moral Agency The Boundaries of Human Exceptionalism Beyond Human Exceptionalism Are LLMs Already Moral Agents? Value Alignment in LLMs The Moral Machine Experiment World Value Survey and the Inglehart-Welzel World Cultural Map CONCLUSION Bibliography