Final Episode: What if Wittgenstein were reborn in modern times?
Following on from the post on July 8, 2025, we bring you "Free Talk by Researchers: The Genius and Developmental Characteristics of the Philosopher Wittgenstein." Please enjoy the slightly nerdy and relaxed talk by researchers (the previous article wasHere).
The final episode explores what would happen if Wittgenstein were reborn in modern times.
Possibility of involvement in AI fundamental theory and conceptual design
(Kimura) I would like to ask Mr. Tachiba, if Wittgenstein had been born in modern times, do you think he would have been interested in computers?
(Position) I definitely think it generated a very strong interest.
(Kimura) I think that's true. I feel the same way, and I think that for him, computers would have been the "best toy." I'm particularly drawn to the fact that current generative AI doesn't "generate" meaning; it simply creates meaningful sentences through probabilistic inference. My understanding is that current AI simply imitates the meanings of words used in human society and strings together sentences that "appear to be meaningful." This seems to trace one of the themes that Wittgenstein tackled throughout his early and later works. So, if he were alive today, I think he would be deeply involved in the basic theory of generative AI. Furthermore, given his nature as an innovator, there's a chance that once he acquired the tool known as a computer, he would have created something far superior to current generative AI. Thinking about it like that just makes my imagination run wild.
(Position) I completely agree. There is debate about whether current AI "has a mind" or "is it merely generating something that looks like a mind probabilistically?" However, from the perspective of the late Wittgenstein, there is room to consider that "isn't language itself essentially like that?" In that sense, I think there is an extremely high affinity between him and AI. As you say, if he were to be reincarnated and appear in the present day, I think he would surprise us in ways we could never have imagined.
The need for a social environment where innovators can thrive
(Position) However, on the other hand, he may not have been the type to meet societal expectations, such as "making something useful using AI." I think there's a possibility that he was somewhat unsuited. I feel that whether or not such innovative people can thrive ultimately depends on whether society and the environment are able to accept them. What do you think, Kimura-san?
(Kimura) I believe society fundamentally needs innovators. However, I feel there is an overwhelming lack of infrastructure to accommodate them. In other words, for someone like him to thrive, he needs an environment where he can access a variety of resources and move freely. It would be ideal if there were managers and organizations in place to provide this, but in reality, this is often not the case. As a result, people like Wittgenstein and Einstein can only thrive when very specific conditions are met. Conversely, without these conditions, I think their lives can be extremely difficult. When you think about it, modern society—especially organizations—is structured around multitasking, making it easy for attention to wander. Such an environment makes it extremely difficult for people with ASD, who excel at deep concentration and working on one problem for extended periods.
(Yoshimura) We would like to break that kind of structure.
(Kimura) I think it's a real shame. Hearing stories like this makes me think how much more fun it would be if more interesting people like this existed in the world. Someone who can bring about innovation not through things, but through concepts -- that would be a revolution at the level of thought, similar to the Protestant Reformation. I realized through today's conversation that this is exactly what Wittgenstein did.
(Yoshimura) I am truly happy that we were able to have so many enjoyable discussions during our dialogue. Thank you very much.
End
