Moves hope from the realm of emotive consolation to existential epistemology, a framework for understanding how humans interpret, construct, and validate meaning under disruptive conditions.
B. Ontological: Is Meaning Absolute or Dynamically Constructed?
The ontological question probes whether meaning exists as an absolute property of reality or as a dynamically constructed phenomenon shaped by human interpretation and contextual evolution---particularly under AI-driven disruption.
1. Absolute vs. Constructed Meaning
Absolute Meaning
Suggests the universe holds intrinsic purpose, independent of human cognition.
Kierkegaard implies a transcendent anchor---faith as the conduit to ultimate meaning beyond empirical reality.
Dynamically Constructed Meaning
Camus and Frankl emphasize the role of human agency in creating meaning amidst absurdity.
In AI disruption, this construction becomes increasingly adaptive---reshaping values, identity, and purpose in real time.
2. Gradient of Hope Theory (GHT) Position
GHT frames meaning as a hybrid ontological construct:
Foundational Potentiality (echoing Kierkegaard) -- possibility of higher-order meaning, though never fully knowable.
Dynamic Realization (echoing Camus & Frankl) -- meaning is enacted through human engagement, guided by hope as a structuring force.
3. Implications in the AI Era
AI challenges notions of fixed human roles, forcing meaning to evolve.
Under GHT, meaning is not static; it is recalibrated according to the level of hope sustaining individual and collective existential frameworks.
C. Ethical: Designing AI and Society Around Hope-Driven Meaning-Making
1. Designing AI and Society Around Hope-Driven Meaning-Making
Human-Centric AI: AI should not merely optimize efficiency but sustain and expand human potential for creating meaning.
Ethical Imperative: Policies must integrate psychosocial insights---hope as a variable in mental well-being, creativity, and moral decision-making.
Practical Examples:
AI education systems that nurture curiosity and resilience rather than deterministic career tracks.
Ethical AI frameworks that value narrative enrichment and human purpose alongside productivity.
2. Avoiding False Hope While Fostering Transformative Narratives
False Hope: Overpromising utopian futures risks existential disillusionment, accelerating nihilism.
Transformative Narratives: Must balance realism with aspirational direction---framing AI disruption as an opportunity for deeper meaning-making rather than mere economic survival.
Ethical Guideline: Promote authentic hope---grounded in realistic assessments yet oriented toward transcendent possibilities.
