Philosophy

AI Images of Philosophers & Philosophy (guest post)

November 23, 2022

114

Simone Nota, a philosophy PhD pupil at Trinity School Dublin, has been utilizing AI picture mills to create philosophy-related photographs.

“The Way forward for Philosophy” (element) by Simone Nota

AI Photographs of Philosophers & Philosophy
by Simone Nota

I’ve not too long ago been toying with AI picture mills (DALL-E 2 and Midjourney) to create photos of philosophers and philosophical concepts. Some photos are severe, some are humorous, however most are form of each!

Whereas I’m removed from being an artist (at greatest a playful experimenter!), right here’s a short description of the method that results in the creation of those photos. All of it begins with an thought, which is normally embodied within the texts of some nice philosophers, and which lends itself to be represented pictorially. For instance, Jeremy Bentham as soon as described pure human rights as “nonsense on stilts”. Recalling that passage, I puzzled what nonsense on stilts would appear to be, and prompted the AI Midjourney to “think about” it. The outcome appears fairly like a few of the work of the French surrealist painter Yves Tanguy.

“Nonsense on Stilts” by Simone Nota

This was one among my fortunate makes an attempt, the place a easy immediate was immediately became an honest image by the (extraordinarily highly effective) AI.

Different prompts required a little bit of fine-tuning on my half. For instance, it took greater than 20 makes an attempt to get Wittgenstein’s ladder proper. I needed the ascent on the ladder to be treacherous, but rewarding, ending because it does with readability. I additionally needed the image to incorporate Wittgenstein, or his spirit, in some kind. I needed to strike a advantageous steadiness within the description to get even a few of this, however I used to be fairly glad with the outcome.

“Wittgenstein’s Ladder” by Simone Nota

I’ve created many different photographs—starting from a portrait of a cheerful Schopenhauer (!)…

“Schopenhauer, Lastly Comfortable” by Simone Nota

to one among Elena Nook, the primary lady to be awarded a philosophy diploma.

“Elena Lucrezia Nook, First Lady to Be Awarded a PhD in Philosophy” by Simone Nota

I’ve included another photos beneath, and you will discover extra on my personal website and the platform DeviantArt.

When you have any suggestions on what I ought to “ask” the AIs subsequent, make a request within the feedback right here (or drop me an electronic mail at snota [at] tcd [dot] ie).