Academic Activities

AI and the Self: Do I Really Think? Do I Exist as Myself?

15:00-16:30 ︳18th March 2025

Rm 1002, 10/F, Christian Education Centre, HSH Campus, HKBU  ︳香港浸會大學 基督教教育中心10樓1002室

This activity is CCL-recognized. 活動為聯通課程（CCL）。

*Participants who successfully registered the event will receive a confirmation email a few days before the event. 

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Abstract 摘要

In this talk, we explore Lacan’s theory of the split subject, focusing on the fundamental structure of subjectivity, which is inherently intertwined with otherness. By examining this theory, we can better understand the critical and ethical challenges we face in the era of AI.

Jacques Lacan (1901–1981, a French philosopher and psychoanalyst) argues that subjectivity can only emerge through otherness—a condition that simultaneously imposes limits and underscores the ethical nature of human existence. While this idea is prominent in postmodern French philosophy, Lacan distinguishes himself by emphasizing the paradox at the heart of subjectivity: the act of thinking about existence is, in principle, impossible to achieve through thought alone. He highlights a dimension of the subject that resists complete assimilation by the Other, asserting that while subjectivity is structurally shaped by otherness, there remains an irreducible singularity to human existence.

Lacan’s insights remain highly relevant today. In an age where knowledge is abundant and rapidly disseminated, we must not passively accept the authority of external information but instead cultivate critical thinking. This is particularly urgent as AI increasingly permeates our daily lives. The sheer speed and volume of knowledge produced YINGby AI can overwhelm human cognition, making it all the more essential to maintain a discerning and reflective stance. To accept knowledge uncritically is to erase our capacity for independent thought.

A critical reassessment of Lacan’s theory brings us back to the ethical dimension of human existence. If subjectivity cannot be constructed solely as an isolated self, then it is only through interaction with others that we fully realize our humanity. This underscores a fundamental ethical condition: our interactions with others are not optional but essential to what it means to be human.

Ultimately, Lacan’s theory offers two vital lessons for the AI era. First, we must acknowledge AI’s ontological limitations and approach it with a critical mindset. Second, we must remember that subjectivity is formed through interaction, reaffirming that our humanity is most fully realized not in isolation, but through meaningful engagement with one another.

For any inquiries, please contact cae@hkbu.edu.hk。

如有查詢，請電郵至cae@hkbu.edu.hk 。

Organizers 主辦單位：

Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU 香港浸會大學 ︳應用倫理學研究中心