MIT Course Explores Rationality Through AI Lens

New class challenges students to examine philosophical questions about artificial intelligence and decision-making.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 3:15am

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A new MIT course, 6.S044/24.S00 (AI and Rationality), is bringing together computer science and philosophy students to explore the philosophical questions surrounding artificial intelligence and rationality. The course, co-taught by professors Leslie Kaelbling and Brian Hedden, examines the nature of rational agency, the concept of autonomous and intelligent agents, and the ascription of beliefs and desires onto AI systems.

Why it matters

As AI systems become more advanced and influential, understanding the philosophical underpinnings of rationality and agency will be crucial for the next generation of AI researchers and developers. The course aims to equip students with the 'habits of mind' and critical thinking skills to approach the challenges and ethical considerations that will arise as AI continues to progress.

The details

The course, offered for the first time in fall 2025, is part of MIT's Common Ground for Computing Education initiative, which brings together multiple departments to develop new courses that blend computing with other disciplines. In addition to computer science students, the class has drawn students from a wide range of backgrounds, including those interested in exploring how AI intersects with their own fields of study. Throughout the semester, students have grappled with different definitions of rationality and how they push back against assumptions in their respective fields.

  • The course was offered for the first time in fall 2025.

The players

Leslie Kaelbling

The Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at MIT, and the co-instructor of the AI and Rationality course.

Brian Hedden

A professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT, holding a shared position with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), and the co-instructor of the AI and Rationality course.

Amanda Paredes Rioboo

A senior in EECS at MIT, and a student in the AI and Rationality course.

Okoroafor

A PhD student in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, and a student in the AI and Rationality course.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The university where the AI and Rationality course is being taught.

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What they’re saying

“You'd imagine computer science and philosophy are pretty far apart, but they've always intersected. The technical parts of philosophy really overlap with AI, especially early AI.”

— Leslie Kaelbling, Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at MIT

“I see the course as building their foundations. We're not giving them a body of doctrine to learn and memorize and then apply. We're equipping them with tools to think about things in a critical way as they go out into their chosen careers, whether they're in research or industry or government.”

— Brian Hedden, Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT

“We're kind of taught that math and logic are this golden standard or truth. This class showed us a variety of examples that humans act inconsistently with these mathematical and logical frameworks. We opened up this whole can of worms as to whether, is it humans that are irrational? Is it the machine learning systems that we designed that are irrational? Is it math and logic itself?”

— Amanda Paredes Rioboo, Senior in EECS at MIT

“Representing what each field means by rationality in a formal framework, makes it clear exactly which assumptions are to be shared, and which were different, across fields.”

— Okoroafor, PhD student in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT

What’s next

The instructors plan to continue offering the AI and Rationality course as part of MIT's Common Ground for Computing Education initiative, providing students with the critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary perspectives needed to navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

The takeaway

This course highlights the deep connections between computer science and philosophy, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the philosophical questions surrounding the development of artificial intelligence. By equipping students with the tools to think critically about rationality and agency, the course aims to prepare the next generation of AI researchers and developers to tackle the ethical and practical challenges that will arise as AI systems become more advanced and influential.