Does ChatGPT Understand the Concept of Tragedy? Symbolic AI & Neural Nets

New working paper. Title above, links, abstract and contents below:

• Academia.edu: https://www.academia.edu/116049941/Does_ChatGPT_Understand_the_Concept_of_Tragedy_Symbolic_AI_and_Neural_Nets
• Social Science Research Network (SSRN): https://ssrn.com/abstract=4754558
• ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378858260_Does_ChatGPT_Understand_the_Concept_of_Tragedy_Symbolic_AI_Neural_Nets

Abstract: Tragedy is an abstract concept. David Hays proposed that abstract concepts can be metalingually defined. A term, such as tragedy, can be given its meaning by a pattern over a string of words. By using a cognitive network to define tragedy Brian Phillips investigated that computationally. In this paper I have taken Brian Phillips’ definition and presented it to ChatGPT in six different trials, where each trial also included a short story. Three stories satisfied the definition and three did not. ChatGPT was asked to indicate whether or not the story satisfied the definition it was given. It was correct in each case.

CONTENTS

Symbolic Computation and Abstract Definition 2
Tragedy Defined 2
ChatGPT Confronts “Tragedy” in Six Trials 4