In the 21st century, technology is evolving at a rapid and exponential rate. The fictional depictions of sentient beings we have come to know and love in classic literature, television shows, and films are not so far out-of-reach. This close proximity to sophisticated, humanoid artificial intelligence (AI) forces us to consider the ethical and sociological questions that will undoubtedly arise as time moves forward and technology advances; for example: When will AI’s servitude be considered enslavement? Can AI ever possess free will? Is it possible for AI to believe in a higher power? Is the human desire to create AI attributed to a God complex? We can explore these inquiries through media, as it produces a safe space where no major ramifications will come of it. Based on the same-title 1973 Michael Crichton film, HBO’s 2016 series Westworld is an example of this safe space that addresses these questions through religious—and particularly Christian and Buddhist—rhetoric, symbols, and characterizations. Through my research, I will use Westworld as a sounding board for popular philosophical and artificial intelligence scholarship ranging from Aristotle to Alan Turing in attempt to find answers. Not only will this project uncover the nature of artificial intelligence but also the nature of ourselves, and we might not like what we see.
About the presenterSarah Morgan
Hello! My name is Sarah Morgan and I am from Laurel, Delaware. I have a B.A. in English with a concentration in literary studies and a background in political science from Wesley College. Now, I am a second-year graduate student working towards my M.A. in English at Villanova University with particular focus on American literature circa 1860 to 1960. As an Americanist, I enjoy unearthing the connections between American cultural shifts and political atmospheres.