Artificial Intelligence in Education: Ethical Considerations and Insights from Ancient Greek Philosophy

TL;DR

The paper investigates how to ethically integrate AI in education from primary to tertiary levels by drawing on ancient Greek philosophy. It analyzes current AI use cases, ethical challenges, and the evolving roles of teachers and students, proposing a philosophy-informed framework to balance innovation with humanistic values. By synthesizing Socratic method, Plato's epistemology, Aristotle's virtue ethics, and Stoic and paideia ideals, it outlines governance, transparency, and AI-literacy requirements to guide responsible deployment. The work aims to inform policy, classroom practice, and AI system design to achieve personalized learning and efficiency without compromising autonomy, equity, and critical thinking.

Abstract

This paper explores the ethical implications of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational settings, from primary schools to universities, while drawing insights from ancient Greek philosophy to address emerging concerns. As AI technologies increasingly influence learning environments, they offer novel opportunities for personalized learning, efficient assessment, and data-driven decision-making. However, these advancements also raise critical ethical questions regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, student autonomy, and the changing roles of educators. This research examines specific use cases of AI in education, analyzing both their potential benefits and drawbacks. By revisiting the philosophical principles of ancient Greek thinkers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, we discuss how their writings can guide the ethical implementation of AI in modern education. The paper argues that while AI presents significant challenges, a balanced approach informed by classical philosophical thought can lead to an ethically sound transformation of education. It emphasizes the evolving role of teachers as facilitators and the importance of fostering student initiative in AI-rich environments.