Book Review: Plato and the Nerd by EDWARD ASHFORD LEE
The dance of humanity and technology
In the age of artificial intelligence and debates surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI), Edward Ashford Lee’s Plato and the Nerd (2018) emerges as an eerily prescient meditation on the symbiotic relationship between humans and technology. Though published before the rise of ChatGPT and the ensuing discourse on whether AI systems can truly understand, think, or reason, Lee’s work provides a philosophical foundation that feels more relevant now than ever.
Lee’s central argument—that humans and technology co-evolve in a dynamic partnership—challenges the deterministic and anthropocentric narratives dominating contemporary AI discourse. With a blend of historical insight and philosophical depth, Lee positions technology not as a mere artefact of human ingenuity but as a transformative force that shapes, and is shaped by, our collective creativity. This perspective is strikingly apt as we grapple with the rapid advancements in machine learning and generative AI, which seem to exhibit capabilities once thought uniquely human, such as composing text, generating images, or even engaging in dialogue.
The book begins with an invocation of Plato, whose skepticism of writing as a technology is an apt analogue for today’s anxieties around AI. Plato worried that writing might weaken memory and diminish the depth of human thought—a critique echoed by those who fear AI systems might erode critical thinking, displace creativity, or become entities we cannot fully control. Lee draws on Plato’s dialectical approach, urging us to move beyond simplistic binaries of “good” or “bad” technology and instead embrace the complexity of the human-technological interplay.
In today’s world, this interplay takes centre stage in debates about AGI. Proponents argue that systems like ChatGPT represent the early stages of machines that can reason, while critics contend that such systems merely simulate understanding without truly “thinking.” Lee’s exploration of technology as an evolving partner provides a valuable lens through which to view this debate. He would likely argue that AI, like writing in Plato’s time, is a tool that amplifies human potential while simultaneously challenging our assumptions about what it means to know, think, and create.
The “nerd” in Lee’s title represents the inventors and innovators whose work gives rise to these technologies, but the book’s insights extend beyond individual creators to the broader dynamics of technological evolution. In an era when AI systems themselves are sometimes called “creative,” Plato and the Nerd invites us to reflect on the human dimensions of innovation. How much of AI’s apparent creativity is a reflection of the human ingenuity embedded in its design? And how might these systems, in turn, reshape our understanding of creativity itself?
Lee’s cautious optimism about the co-evolution of humans and technology offers a refreshing alternative to the polarising narratives around AI. He acknowledges the risks inherent in technological progress—bias, disconnection, and unintended consequences—but he also highlights the ways in which technology expands the scope of human possibility. This balanced perspective is urgently needed today, as fears of AI “taking over” compete with hopes of it solving humanity’s most intractable problems.
The book’s greatest strength is its emphasis on dialogue. Like Plato’s dialectic, Lee’s framework encourages readers to approach technology as a site of inquiry rather than a set of fixed answers. This is particularly valuable in the current AI landscape, where ethical dilemmas, existential questions, and technical debates often seem intractable. Lee reminds us that these challenges are not new; they are the latest chapters in an ongoing story of human creativity and technological transformation.
If there is a limitation to Plato and the Nerd, it is that its pre-ChatGPT context leaves some gaps in its engagement with the emergent phenomenon of AI systems that appear autonomous or even intelligent. However, far from diminishing the book’s relevance, this historical vantage point enhances its clarity. Lee’s reflections on the nature of technological change allow us to step back from the hype surrounding AI and ask deeper questions about its role in our lives.
In conclusion, Plato and the Nerd is not just a book about technology; it is a guide to thinking through the challenges and opportunities of a world increasingly shaped by AI. For anyone grappling with questions of intelligence, creativity, and the future of human-machine collaboration, Lee’s work offers a rich and rewarding perspective. As we stand on the cusp of a new technological era, this book serves as a reminder that the dialogue between humans and technology is as old as philosophy itself—and as transformative as the technologies we continue to create.