The Sovereign Future: A Philosophy of Human Freedom in the Age of Intelligent Machines

In The Sovereign Future: A Philosophy of Human Freedom in the Age of Intelligent Machines, Herbert R. Sim argues that technological progress should expand people’s practical ability to direct their own lives and shape the institutions they depend on. The essay develops eleven principles for assessing who sets the terms of technological use, whether people can refuse or withdraw without losing essential support, and how affected communities can contest decisions and obtain remedies.

A hypothetical memory aid illustrates how a technology can increase a person’s capabilities while giving its provider greater control over the conditions of access. The Zenodo edition includes an assessment table that translates the principles into questions for designers, institutions, and affected communities.