Frankenstein as a Sociological Critique of Artificial Intelligence: Integrating Sociology of Literature, AI Ethics, And Responsible Innovation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52166/edulitics.v11i2.13758Keywords:
Frankenstein, Artificial Intelligence, sociology of literature, responsible innovation, AI ethicsAbstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed contemporary society while generating complex ethical challenges related to accountability, transparency, governance, and human oversight. Previous studies have generally examined the novel through technological, philosophical, or bioethical perspectives without systematically integrating Alan Swingewood's Sociology of Literature, the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, and Responsible Innovation as a unified analytical framework. This study addresses that gap by examining how Frankenstein functions as a sociological critique of contemporary Artificial Intelligence through the integration of these three complementary perspectives. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the research applies close reading and thematic textual analysis to selected passages from the novel, using an analytical coding matrix drawn from Sociology of Literature, UNESCO AI Ethics, and Responsible Innovation. The findings reveal four principal arguments. First, Victor Frankenstein symbolizes technological ambition detached from ethical responsibility. Second, the Creature represents ethically neutral technology shaped by social interaction and human governance. Third, the novel's tragedy illustrates the failure of Responsible Innovation by showing that ethical responsibility extends beyond creation to continuous stewardship throughout the innovation lifecycle. Finally, Frankenstein functions as a sociological critique of technological culture by emphasizing that sustainable innovation depends on accountability, human-centered values, and institutional governance rather than technological capability alone. The study contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship by integrating literary sociology with contemporary AI ethics and Responsible Innovation to reinterpret Frankenstein as a literary model of continuous AI stewardship, and it offers practical insights for AI developers, policymakers, and educators by showing how classical literature can inform ethical governance throughout the lifecycle of emerging technologies.
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