Human as a functional object!.. - Abdullah Dörtlemez

Sisyphus carries the same stone up the hill every day, but it rolls back down. He is condemned by the gods to roll the same stone up a hill for eternity. The stone falls back down each time. This myth is an allegory of labor detached from meaning, effort devoid of creativity, or in other words, captivity in meaningless repetition. The story has deeply influenced contemporary writers, artists, philosophers and politicians.

The aim of this article is to touch upon and broaden horizons in the way that visualized artificial intelligence has become a power that “frames” humans, and the philosophical and ethical problems it has created in the field of human resources, based on philosopher Heidegger’s understanding of technology.

SISYPHUS AND THE CYCLE OF UNPRODUCTIVITY

In the modern world, people are condemned to constantly repetitive workflows; instead of producing a new idea every day, they are forced to fill in predefined templates, comply with the process, and submit to norms. In human resources systems, candidates try to pass the same tests over and over again with the same algorithms, but the individual's originality is not seen. This turns into a prolonged Sisyphus ordeal that means nothing more than the ignoring of creativity.

With the concept of "Gestell" (enframing), Heidegger argues that technology is not only an instrumental reason but also a way of revealing being. In this context, the human being ceases to be a subject in the modern technological order and is reduced to a functional object as a "human resource".

Gestell is actually the intellectual and practical framework that allows nature and humans to be seen only as “usable resources.” In this case, humans are also processed as a resource within the logic of technology. In other words, humans cease to be subjects and become functional objects, “human resources.” Here, the existence of humans is measurable as an “existent”; their potential is not considered with its existential depth, but only as a function.

IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Heidegger’s foresight has become even more evident in the world of artificial intelligence and data economy today: Artificial intelligence systems encode human behaviors, emotions, and preferences as measurable data. Naturally, this not only transforms humans into digitized beings, but also makes it possible to view humans as a data point and a “resource to be optimized.” In short, “human resources” is now becoming an area where not only recruitment processes but also productivity, spiritual efficiency, and behavioral tendencies are managed. Algorithms that monitor the performance of employees and laborers evaluate humans like machines: Low productivity becomes justification for removing the employee from the system. When viewed from Heidegger’s perspective, the effects of artificial intelligence on human resources:

Forgetting about existence: Man is not perceived as an entity, but only as a functional capacity. Here, as we mentioned above, man's existence is measured as an "existent"; only his function is taken into account, not his becoming, potential, existential depth.

Dissolution of subjectivity: Human qualities such as decision-making, will and ethical responsibility are becoming driven by algorithms. Technology is transforming the relationship between humans and themselves, in other words, technology is changing the answer people give to the question “Who am I?”

The existence of the possibility of salvation: Although Heidegger says that technology is a “fatal revelation,” he does not neglect to imply that art, thinking, and “clarity/truth” still offer a way of salvation. It can also be expressed as follows, “functionality conceals, dysfunction reveals,” that is, the tool is hidden while it is working; when it breaks down, its true nature is revealed. At this point, the problems, psychology, and physical limits of Man become visible.

WHAT TO DO?

Although the technological “framing” approach has been criticized a lot in the scientific world, it provides a strong philosophical basis for understanding how artificial intelligence shapes humans. “Humans” are now a resource. If humans are not just data, producers, or performance tools, there is a need to redefine and construct this on an ethical, philosophical, and humanitarian level. In particular, legal assurance that integrates “personal rights” into technology needs to be provided. It is possible to transform this course of events by programming it together with philosophy, ethics, creativity, law, and especially art. Let’s hope that the governments and their alternatives will approach humans as valuable beings instead of seeing them as functional objects!

ABDULLAH DORLETZ

HISTORIAN, LAWYER, HONORARY COUNCIL MEMBER