The Obsolescence of Human Beings in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

This chapter examines the question of qualia in the context of artificial intelligence and links it to Günther Anders' diagnosis of the ‘Promethean gap.' The aim is to combine the ontological debate on machine consciousness with an anthropological-ethical perspective. Methodologically, classical positions in the philosophy of mind (functionalism, Searle, Tononi, panpsychism) are systematically presented and critically reflected upon in light of Anders' philosophy of technology. In doing so, it is shown that the real problem is not the existence of qualia in machines, but rather the structural overload of humans in recognizing such phenomena and classifying them appropriately in normative terms. The main findings emphasize: (1) the insolubility of the epistemic, imaginative, and moral divide, (2) the necessity of an ‘ethics of ignorance' based on the precautionary principle, and (3) philosophical humility toward the unimaginable as a guideline for governance, law, and technology design.