The political philosophy of machine learning for the here and now Josh Simons, Algorithms for the People: Democracy in the Age of AI . Princeton University Press: Princeton, 2023; 320 pp. £25.00, ISBN: 9780691244006 (hbk).Mathias Risse, Political Theory of the Digital Age: Where Artificial Intelligence Might Take Us . Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2023; 332 pp. $42.00, ISBN: 9781009255196 (pbk).
Year: 2025
Type: book-review
Abstract: Machine learning and artificial intelligence have sparked widespread interest from political philosophers. In this review article, I examine two different methodological approaches to engaging with such technology by comparing Mathias Risse's Political Theory of the Digital Age and Josh Simons’ Algorithms for the People. Risse undertakes a broad exploration of the political questions raised by AI in an effort to update liberal-egalitarian thought for the digital century. Conversely, Simons adopts a narrower scope, homing in on machine learning algorithms used in ranking and automated decision making and grounding analysis in the economic, legal, and technical features of these systems. My argument is that while both works make valuable contributions to the field, if we wish political philosophy to guide the integration of technology into our common lives, we should prefer Simons’ approach.
Author: Jake Iain Stone
Institution: Australian National University
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,650
OpenAlex ID: W4414642980