Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.34075/cs.61.1.1
Between the mirror and virtue: on the possibility of friendship with artificial intelligence
Daniel Miščin
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The article explores the possibility of friendship between humans and artificial intelligence, starting from the premise that such a relationship is ontologically asymmetrical. Through the examples of Bina 48 and “the compassionate colonel,” it is shown that artificial intelligence can imitate dialogue but cannot achieve reciprocity, since it possesses neither its own τέλος nor φρόνησις, and operates solely within a predetermined functional purpose. In light of Aristotle’s tripartite classification of friendship, it becomes evident that only friendships of utility and pleasure are possible with artificial intelligence, while friendship of virtue is excluded due to the absence of a lasting moral ἕξις and an integral καλοκἀγαθία. It is concluded that artificial intelligence may generate an echo of dialogue, but not the shared horizon of meaning upon which the very possibility of friendship rests.
Keywords
artificial intelligence; friendship; Aristotle; Lévinas; ontology
Hrčak ID:
347346
URI
Publication date:
25.5.2026.
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