Islamic virtue-based ethics for artificial intelligence

Abstract

The twenty-first century technological advances driven by exponential rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology have ushered in a new era that offers many of us hitherto unimagined luxuries and facilities. However, under the guise of this progressive discourse, particularly in the backdrop of current neo-liberal late-capitalist postmodern world, AI development also has prompted an increasingly uncertain ethical tomorrow. This paper aims to probe the question of ethics by exploring the true ramifications of AI and interrogating its various ethical dimensions. It questions the essential goodness that is attributed to unstinted AI development before elucidating the ethical repercussions of AI advancements and the aptness of the current market logics and business models that govern the tech-industry. The paper next positions a holistic Islamic virtue-based AI ethics framework grounded in the context of Islamic objectives (maqāṣid) as an alternative ethical system for AI governance. We argue that this distinctive Islamic virtue-based ethical approach, which can be used to explore AI-related ethical problems more holistically due to its ontological base and rich tradition while keeping in check undue influence from the current socio-politico-economic climate, can be a valuable addition to the global discourse on AI ethics.

Maqasid Al-Shari’ah and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

“…Conceptualizing maqasid-based ethics and virtues in the Islamic tradition is intended to encompass an ethical framework that helps resolve the hierarchy of values within the societal dimension, which is then concretized by a social instrument of virtuous individuals that leads to virtuous masses and societies upholding maqasid-based ethics in their lives and practices. The structure of the maqasid-based ethics in this paper for Artificial Intelligence to seek in the societal sphere, which all specialists, policymakers, users and others should put into force through their righteous dispositions (Raquib et al, 2022). The development of ethical values would be guided by the maqasid framework in this case, even though it depends on experiential learning from life's opportunities and challenges.…”

“…All facets of social and personal life are supported by Islamic principles, and the Shari'ah guides all experiences. Despite the fact that the sources of Islamic ethics and law are not unanimous and there are some areas of nonagreement, this gives rise to a divine unity among Muslims who can always turn to the scripture to forge consensus, particularly for new occurrences or unprecedented situations (Raquib et al, 2022). Indeed, a framework other than a technological or scientific one must be used to evaluate Artificial Intelligence.…”

Ethics and diversity in artificial intelligence policies, strategies and initiatives

“…In tandem with these views are efforts to make explicit the application of various alternatives to Western ethical ideas of AI. Some such approaches include the incorporation of Ubuntu as an ethical and human rights framework for AI governance [ 49 , 50 ]; an Islamic virtue-based framework, underpinned by the context of Islamic objectives ( maqāṣid ) [ 51 ]; bringing a Buddhist viewpoint and the concept of ethical perfection to AI [ 52 ] and applying the indigenous idea of sumac kawsay (Buen Vivir in Spanish) to reinterpret global governance [ 53 ]. As challenges or alternatives to Global North and Western ethnocentrism, these approaches also highlight how sociocultural values and norms inform the definition and implementation of AI ethics principles.…”

How to program autonomous vehicle (AV) crash algorithms: an Islamic ethical perspective

“…Specifically, it explores whether Islamic ethics prioritize saving more lives at any cost or whether they discourage any action that may sacrifice human life, regardless of consequentialist calculations. Limited existing research has studied AI from the perspective of Islamic ethics (Raquib et al , 2022), and to the best of our knowledge, no previous work has focused specifically on examining the normative principles derived from Islamic ethics in the context of programming AV crash algorithms.…”