The Ethics of AI: Philosophical Perspectives

Kakembo Aisha Annet

Faculty of Education, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become increasingly integrated into human affairs, the ethical frameworks guiding their development and deployment demand critical reassessment. This paper examines the intersection of AI and philosophy, challenging reductive “common-sense ethics” by engaging deeply with foundational ethical theories. Tracing the historical development of AI ethics, it examines how various philosophical approaches utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and social contract theory inform current debates on machine morality, algorithmic responsibility, and human-AI relations. The paper also scrutinizes issues of bias, surveillance, and fairness, arguing for ethically robust AI governance mechanisms that are context-sensitive and philosophically grounded. Drawing from both classic moral philosophy and contemporary applications, this paper seeks to move beyond superficial ethical codes toward a deeper understanding of the values that should guide AI development in increasingly autonomous and high-stakes environments.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI Ethics, Philosophy of Technology, Utilitarianism, Deontological Ethics, Virtue Ethics.

CITE AS: Kakembo Aisha Annet (2025). The Ethics of AI: Philosophical Perspectives. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN EDUCATION 5(2):65-71.  https://doi.org/10.59298/RIJRE/2025/526571