Shakespeare and Nonhuman Intelligence

Juicy mathematical horror-comedy in the time of generative artificial intelligence.

Heather Warren-Crow (Author)

9781009202640, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 May 2024

108 pages
17.8 x 12.5 x 0.6 cm, 0.11 kg

The Infinite Monkey Theorem is an idea frequently encountered in mass market science books, discourse on Intelligent Design, and debates on the merits of writing produced by chatbots. According to the Theorem, an infinite number of typing monkeys will eventually generate the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare and Nonhuman Intelligence is a metaphysical analysis of the Bard's function in the Theorem in various contexts over the past century. Beginning with early-twentieth century astrophysics and ending with twenty-first century AI, it traces the emergence of Shakespeare as the embattled figure of writing in the age of machine learning, bioinformatics, and other alleged crimes against the human organism. In an argument that pays close attention to computer programs that instantiate the Theorem, including one by biologist Richard Dawkins, and to references in publications on Intelligent Design, it contends that Shakespeare performs as an interface between the human and our Others: animal, god, machine.

1. Three propositions on the [ ] between Shakespeare and monkeys
2. A sequence of possibilities enabled by various couplings
3. Hell is empty and all the devils are here
4. Postscript
References.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]