As an AI advocate with a humanities degree, I think AI should always coexist with critical thinking, agency, and human judgment.
In the panorama of history, AI is new, even in Silicon Valley time.
Three ancient philosophers still speak their truths to modern humans in the age of AI.
Heraclitus was the teacher of Change.
Parmenides was the teacher of Unchanging Being.
Diogenes was the teacher of Disruption.
Paradoxically, all three are right at the same time when it comes to humans and AI.
Heraclitus
Heraclitus was the teacher of change.
He taught that everything is in flux.
He is famous for the idea that no one can step into the same river twice, because it’s not the same water, and you aren’t the same person either.
Heraclitus would affirm that AI is continuously changing how we work, create, learn, communicate, and solve problems.
Heraclitus embraced perpetual change.
“On those stepping into rivers staying the same other and other waters flow.”
—Heraclitus
Here are some lessons from Heraclitus:
Change is normal.
Change is good.
Change brings opportunity.
That doesn’t mean that each and every change is good in itself.
It means that change creates new circumstances, which bring new opportunities.
Resistance to change is also normal for humans.
But the present will soon be past, and you can’t keep things exactly as they are anyway.
About that river of change: you can try to freeze the river in time, or ride it to a new destination.
AI is changing the opportunity landscape.
Heraclitus would tell us to pay attention, because perpetual change brings perpetual opportunity.
Parmenides
Parmenides was the teacher of unchanging being.
He focused on what is, and what will remain.
As everything appears to be changing, not everything should change.
AI has brought tectonic change to the workplace—but you should never outsource or abdicate what belongs to you.
Critical thinking, agency, human judgment, and values are all distinctly yours.
Like a kite flying in the changing breeze, you can ride freely in all directions but still remain anchored, if your kite is tethered to the ground with a solid line.
“And remaining the same, in the same place, and on its own, it rests.”
—Parmenides
The same is true for individuals navigating AI.
The work will change. So will the tools and the assumptions.
But your anchors don’t.
The more rapidly the world changes around you, the more important it is to know your anchors.
Who are you?
What are your values?
What are your natural strengths?
Parmenides reminds us that change without identity results in drift.
Diogenes
Diogenes was the disruptor.
He lived what some characterized as a dog’s life — an extremely simple existence, comfortable in his own skin, unconcerned about what others thought of him.
The story is told that Alexander the Great approached the famous Diogenes. He asked Diogenes if there might be some favor he could do for him.
Diogenes simply told Alexander to stop blocking his light.
Alexander, one of the most powerful individuals in the world at that time, had offered him practically anything, yet Diogenes dared to be different.
He challenged assumptions about status, wealth, success, and what a person really needed.
Diogenes was self-contained. He really didn’t need anything.
“Stand out of my light.”
—Diogenes
Diogenes has something to say about AI:
AI can generate an answer.
AI can tell you what other people have said.
AI can amplify conventional wisdom and even help you challenge it.
But your judgment makes the difference.
AI has been criticized as a stochastic parrot, chaining tokens based on probability.
The real danger is when humans become the parrots — blindly repeating whatever AI gives them without exercising agency or judgment.
Diogenes would ask the uncomfortable questions:
Are you using the tool?
Or is the tool using you?
All Three Are True
Heraclitus reminds us that everything changes.
Parmenides reminds us that some things should never change.
Diogenes reminds us to challenge underlying assumptions.
All three are true.
AI is an amplifier.
But we must bring something worth amplifying—our own critical thinking, agency, and judgment.
Without them, AI amplifies the void.
Three Philosophers Walk Into a Bar...
Three philosophers walk into a bar.
The bartender asks, “What do you need?”
Heraclitus, the teacher of change, says:
“Surprise me!”
Parmenides, the teacher of unchanging being, says:
“The usual.”
And Diogenes, the disruptor, says:
“I don’t need ANYTHING, but YOU need what I have.”
All three are right.
Something to think about…
What AI-related change have you experienced? What opportunities did that change create?
What are your grounding principles and strengths?
How can you use your strengths, agency, and judgment to direct your own path?
Understanding my own natural strengths has been a foundational anchor through many seasons of change, including AI. The Kolbe A™ Index is a great way to understand your strengths and how you naturally take action. I am a Kolbe Certified Consultant. Message me if you’d like to learn more about Kolbe.