About the Department
The Department of Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence at Ibn Haldun University is an interdisciplinary program that aims to address the ancient intellectual heritage of philosophy and one of the most transformative technologies of our age, artificial intelligence, within the same intellectual framework. The primary objective of our department is to cultivate individuals who possess advanced analytical and critical reasoning skills; who are capable of deep reflection; and who do not merely use technology but can interrogate its meaning, limits, and implications.
The concepts of algorithm, logic, and computation, which lie at the heart of computer science and AI research, have been historically examined by numerous philosophers and thinkers ranging from Aristotle to Leibniz, and from Ibn al-Haytham and al-Khwarizmi to Alan Turing. This historical continuity reveals the profound conceptual link between philosophy and computer science, positioning philosophy not just as an ethical companion to artificial intelligence but as its constitutive intellectual ground.
Curriculum
Our curriculum possesses a broad historical framework extending from the formative, classical, and post-classical periods of Islamic philosophy to Ottoman and Republican era thought. While addressing the Islamic, Western, and Turkish philosophical traditions in historical continuity—starting from Ancient Greek and Hellenistic thought—our department aims to evaluate this heritage alongside contemporary AI studies, cognitive sciences, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language.
Students gain a contemporary perspective through courses focusing on the philosophy of artificial intelligence, ethics, technology policies, the philosophy of cognitive sciences, mathematics and logic, the philosophy of language, and the relationship between society and technology. This approach places special importance on the dialogue that traditional intellectual accumulation can establish with modern science and technology.
Competencies Gained
The Department aims to raise graduates who can critically evaluate the social role of AI, its ethical problems, and its impact on conceptions of civilization, using technical knowledge and philosophical reasoning in tandem. Accordingly, our students develop skills in ethical reasoning, conceptual analysis, and critical thinking alongside fundamental technical and theoretical knowledge regarding AI and digital technologies.
Through our research-oriented approach, students acquire the competence to analyze philosophical problems within the context of both diverse intellectual traditions and current technological developments. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to gain high proficiency in foreign languages, particularly English and Arabic, providing them with a global academic and professional reach.
Career Opportunities
As a research-oriented program, the Department provides a strong intellectual foundation for those interested in academic studies. Beyond academia, our graduates are equipped to take on effective roles in the rapidly evolving world of technology thanks to their interdisciplinary thinking skills.
Career opportunities include:
- AI Ethics and Technology Policy: Advising on the ethical and social implications of digital transformation.
- Consultancy and Research: Strategic roles in technology-driven industries and think tanks.
- Education and Publishing: Academic roles, specialized editing, and intellectual content production.
- Civil Society: Managing projects within NGOs focused on technology and human rights.
The Department of Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence ultimately aims to build the intellectual foundations of an understanding of AI that is not technology-centered, but rather human, society, and civilization-centered.
