Browse Comments — Clean (de-noised)

Link to the text via The Vatican

The dignity justification in the encyclical works for about 30% of the population. For the rest of the world, the non-Christian world, it is provincial. To address this, I propose we establish “the floor” of human dignity, based on shared biology of the species, a biology that predates all sectarian and secular traditions by about 300,000 years. My reaction is on my page for those interested.

Thank you for this thoughtful write up. While I didn’t have a minor in religion, I have a certificate course in theology and having thought at a Catholic seminary for seven (7) years which shaped me both intellectually and spiritually; this is in addition to seeing myself as a good daughter of the Church who enjoys reading Encyclicals, i have also been curious and puzzled about the avalanche of commentaries on the document. So I agree with your observation. I’ve queued my study of the document to be tomorrow.

Could it be that some of the summaries were produced using ai

As you mentioned, despite religion, this is something to follow as well as something historic. Vatican done the same during the last major industrial revolution. Anthropic has been working with religious/spiritual people for a while now so it seems logic to see this document coming out. While I haven't read it all, I see this as the Vatican official AI position not just for all to read but also for them internally. Priests like many other "positions/job" have been caught using AI and parishioners complaining about it. This is the official start of more AI literacy within the church which is something missing within every workforce. I agree with the school point and wonder if catholic school will adapt their curriculum quicker than public schools. I've been introducing AI to my kids for last 2yrs and youngest is only 5. But it's key we better support our young by teaching them about AI not just how to prompt, creative thinking, but its impact on the earth and society. So they can understand the bigger picture, not just the marketing slogan of AI companies.

From one theology & ethics graduate to another, thanks for sharing!!

Clara Hawking Clara, thank you for this post. Indeed, the flood of overnight verdicts is itself a case study in what the document warns against: the social media reflex of converting complexity into immediate output. Your point on schools as civilisational institutions rather than labour-market pipelines is one of the strongest threads. Here is what struck me on a first read. Leo XIV is unusually direct about political economy. The document names private transnational power directly & is concrete on AI's supply chain. This is closer to Dr. Cecilia Rikap's analysis of monopoly capitalism than I expected from Rome. Where I will want to read more slowly is the treatment of #posthumanism, which collapses serious critical scholarship into Silicon Valley enhancement ideology. And the anthropocentric centre of gravity narrows the planetary opening that #LaudatoSi' began. A comparison of the two papal documents could be very telling. Looking forward to your deeper reading. Aida Ponce Del Castillo Carissa Véliz Vanessa Andreotti

Seriously, this is why I come here. It’s the real analysis. I really have not seen an more excellent take on this.

Clara Hawking / loving ❤️ your work!

Thank you so much Jabe Wilson

Amy Grace Oh yeah, that is something few knew about us, but we have enjoyed sharing. All the best wishes 🌸

Peter Sweeney I am slightly suspicious... 😅 And, it’s too bad because this document deserves to be read.

H. T í t í l ọ lá Ọ l ọ́ j ẹ́ dé , PhD Thank you. I hope you will enjoy diving into this text. From what I have picked up thus far, it resonates strongly with the work you do. Can’t wait to hear your take.

Thank you Clara, both for your thoughtful initial analysis, and for pointing out the issue regarding the volume of almost immediate responses. This is an important issue in itself which I've been reflecting on a lot recently.

Thanks Clara Hawking - agree, it's a document that requires reflection, and not an LLM generated summary, as I have seen in many newsletters. What is most outstanding from my perspective is rather the clear position against transhumanism and posthumanism (point 115 and 116). The following passage (The limit, the heart and the grandeur of the human person) - is a clear call to "Jerusalem" (i.e. re-building from scratch based in the guidance by God (or humanitiy in the most divine loving sense) vs. "Babel" (technomoloch highlander princple OBEY to the MASTER TECH). And I think this is the main tension, as a guard rail, and I am quite certain that not only the 1.4 billion Christinas will agree to it.

Stephen, Timnit, Otti: A take you might like.

Clara I am with you on slow digesting this document. It should take weeks if not months, of being around different tables with different serious people who have dedicated their life force to thinking seriously about such things, and then formulate a clear understanding of what the Pope meant.

Aman indeed, and as with all the encyclicals, people often seem to overlook that they are rooted in trinitarian metaphysics rather than liberal epistemology. ;-)

Elodie Flenniau love this reflection. I do think that this is the kickoff document for Catholic schools to overhaul their curriculum and practice. He speaks almost directly to school leaders and educators in several chapters (including 3 and 4). It makes me think, that it is a call to action. I will be watching that space closely. What you wrote here also landed with me: “This is the official start of more AI literacy within the church which is something missing within every workforce.” It reminds me of an article I read out of Denmark, where the church leadership came out and told pastors to stop using AI generated sermons. They had spotted a massive problem across their churches. AI literacy is impotent in all fields, and it includes knowing when not to use AI.

Thank you Joanne Ely. That means a lot to me.