The Importance of Being Educable

A New Theory of Human Uniqueness

Leslie Valiant

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Hardback

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English

Princeton University Press
15 June 2024

Psychology; Philosophy & theory of education; Philosophy of science; Neurosciences; Artificial intelligence

In the age of AI, why our future depends on better understanding what makes us human

We are at a crossroads in history. If we hope to share our planet successfully with one another and the AI systems we are creating, we must reflect on who we are, how we got here, and where we are heading. The Importance of Being Educable puts forward a provocative new exploration of the extraordinary facility of humans to absorb and apply knowledge. The remarkable 'educability' of the human brain can be understood as an information processing ability. It sets our species apart, enables the civilisation we have, and gives us the power and potential to set our planet on a steady course. Yet it comes hand in hand with an insidious weakness. While we can readily absorb entire systems of thought about worlds of experience beyond our own, we struggle to judge correctly what information we should trust.

In this visionary book, Leslie Valiant argues that understanding the nature of our own educability is crucial to safeguarding our future. After breaking down how we process information to learn and apply knowledge, and drawing comparisons with other animals and AI systems, he explains why education should be humankind's central preoccupation.

Will the unique capability that has been so foundational to our achievements and civilisation continue to drive our progress, or will we fall victim to our vulnerabilities? If we want to play to our species' great strength and protect our collective future, we must better understand and prioritize the vital importance of being educable. This book provides a road map.

By: Leslie Valiant
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9780691230566
ISBN 10: 0691230560
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 15 June 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Leslie Valiant is the T. Jefferson Coolidge Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Harvard University. Recipient of the Turing Award and the Nevanlinna Prize for his foundational contributions to machine learning and computer science, he is the author of Probably Approximately Correct and Circuits of the Mind.

Reviews for The Importance of Being Educable: A New Theory of Human Uniqueness

""Longlisted for the Non-Obvious Book Awards"" ""It’s ‘educability,’ not intelligence, that matters most.""---Joshua Rothman, New Yorker ""This brief, philosophical treatise will be a thoughtful addition to academic collections focused on artificial intelligence and human learning."" * Library Journal * ""Intelligence lacks a clear and agreed definition in science, leading to confusion about IQ and the potential of artificial intelligence. Leslie Valiant, a pioneer of machine learning, prefers to define human intellectual uniqueness as educability instead of intelligence . . . in his complex but jargon-free book.""---Andrew Robinson, Nature