A Historical Review and Philosophical Examination of the two Paradigms in Artificial Intelligence Research

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field that has undergone significant changes and challenges over time. This paper reviews the historical development of AI and representative philosophical thinking, and also considers the methodology and applications of AI, and anticipates its continued advancement. It discusses two main paradigms: symbolism and connectionism, which differ in how they explain and implement intelligence through symbols or artificial neural networks. However, neither paradigm is the final answer to AI research but rather reflects the best answer at a given time. The paper also analyzes the shortcomings of both paradigms from a philosophical perspective and argues that the most fundamental philosophical issue therein is understanding the difference between biological and artificial intelligence.