The Intellectual Genealogy of AI Ethics: From Renaissance Humanism and Enlightenment Rationality to Modern Philosophical Thought

Ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence are often discussed as if they belong only to the modern world. Because the technology feels new, the concerns also appear new. Yet, when looked at more carefully, these questions are not peculiar. That same concern quietly appears today when we question whether artificial intelligence supports human decision-making or slowly replaces it. The fear is not technological; it is extremely human. Later, The Enlightenment theorists argued that power must be guided by reason and moral obligations. Ideas such as accountability, rights, and fairness grew out of this period. These ideas remain pertinent when contemporary societies debate the even handedness of automated systems or question who should be held responsible for algorithm-based decisions. The tools have changed, but the moral tension remains. Human beings have always thought deeply about the outcomes of what they create. Every time a new form of knowledge or power comes into existence, it raises important questions. How much control is acceptable, and who should be held responsible when those creations begin to affect society.