THE ETHICS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE PATH TOWARD HUMAN TRANSCENDENCE

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a product of human ingenuity, intended to be a tool in service of the common good and personal development. However, its misuse or excessive application can lead to consequences contrary to human nature. Developing an appropriate ethics for AI requires understanding not only the limits of this technology but also the ultimate ends of man. The human being, by his very nature, is oriented toward a higher end: God. Any ethical reflection on AI must align with this reality, for any technology that deviates from this ultimate end runs the risk of dehumanizing and degrading the person.

1. Human Nature and Its Ultimate End in God

Man, created with reason and will, is not made solely for the material world. His nature transcends the temporal and the finite, for his ultimate destiny is union with God, the supreme good. AI, as a creation of human reason, must respect this transcendent order. It cannot supplant man’s ability to seek and reach the truth that resides in God, nor should it compromise his moral freedom. The use of technology must, therefore, be subordinated to this ultimate end.

Man must not lose sight that technology is a means to perfect his capacities but never to distract his attention from God, who is his true destiny. Therefore, any attempt to use AI to redefine human nature or artificially transcend the limits imposed by the human condition is an error that contradicts the truth about man.

2. The Common Good: Ordering Technology Toward God and the Community

The common good is more than just an aggregation of individual goods; it is the set of conditions that allow all members of the community to reach their perfection, which finds its culmination in God. AI, therefore, must serve this shared perfection. If used correctly, it can be a powerful tool for promoting justice, equity, and the well-being of all society. However, if its implementation deviates from this goal, it can generate division, inequality, and injustice.

AI must contribute to collective well-being, but always within a framework of respect for man’s ultimate end. Technology cannot be used for purposes that divert humanity from its path toward God, such as concentrating power in a few hands or promoting ideologies that ignore man’s transcendent dignity. Ultimately, the common good is achieved when the community is guided toward truth and justice, which find their fullness in God.

3. Moral Responsibility: Prudence in the Service of Divine Will

Human beings, endowed with reason and will, are ultimately responsible for all their actions, including those mediated by technology. Prudence, the virtue that allows one to discern the right means to achieve proper ends, must guide the use of AI. AI itself cannot act morally, so man cannot abdicate his moral responsibility in decision-making.

The use of AI must always be subject to human oversight that maintains a connection with moral law and divine will. Decisions that affect human life, justice, or the well-being of others cannot be delegated to machines but must be evaluated and approved by those who, endowed with reason, can discern what is good and what is evil. Ultimately, human reason must always be oriented toward God and His law, which is the ultimate framework for all morality.

4. Avoiding Technological Abuse: Limiting Cyborgs and Transhumanism

The idea of using AI to transcend human limitations, as advocated by transhumanism, represents a severe distortion of the natural order. Man is not called to overcome his condition through technology but to perfect himself in his nature, whose end is union with God. The concept of the “cyborg,” which seeks to fuse the human body with machines, is a manifestation of this error. AI, far from being a means to reconfigure man’s essence, must respect the ontological limits of human nature.

Man, created in God’s image, does not need to transform his essential nature through technology. True human perfection lies in the pursuit of truth and goodness, which lead him to God, not in manipulating his body or mind to overcome physical limitations. Any use of AI that seeks to alter human nature distorts its dignity and ultimate end.

5. Subsidiarity: AI as a Help to Man on His Journey Toward God

The principle of subsidiarity teaches that technology must strengthen man’s ability to act, not replace it. AI can be a useful tool for improving processes, increasing efficiency in daily tasks, and even freeing man from repetitive or burdensome tasks, but it should never replace his moral and personal action. The use of technology must always respect man’s autonomy in those aspects essential to his life and ultimate vocation.

AI can assist man in fulfilling his mission on earth, which is to prepare for eternal life with God, facilitating access to knowledge and improving his quality of life. However, it must always remain a tool subordinated to man’s higher ends, helping in his moral perfection and progress toward God.

6. Human Control and Constant Supervision: Never Replacing Reason

Artificial intelligence must always be under the control of human reason. In no case can machines be allowed to operate autonomously in areas that affect human life and dignity. Man, endowed with intellect and will, is the only one capable of discerning good from evil and must always be the ultimate authority responsible for any decision made with the help of AI. Human control is essential to ensure that technological decisions respect moral law and the principles guiding man toward God.

7. Justice and Transparency in the Use of AI

Justice requires that the use of AI be transparent, accessible, and always subject to human reason. Automated decisions, especially in critical areas such as justice, medicine, or human rights, must be clear and understandable to those responsible. Opacity in the use of AI can lead to injustices and inequalities, which contradict the common good. AI must be at the service of justice, promoting fairness and avoiding any form of discrimination or bias.

8. Ethical Training for AI Developers and Users

The development and use of AI require solid ethical training, allowing individuals to act according to moral law. AI developers must be trained not only in technical aspects but also in understanding the moral implications of their work. Moral judgment must guide every stage of AI development and use, ensuring that this technology serves the common good and the spiritual progress of man.

9. Technology in the Service of Man and His Transcendence in God

The use of AI must always be oriented toward man’s transcendence toward his ultimate end: God. Technology is not an end in itself but a means for man to live more fully his vocation on earth, preparing for eternal life. Any use of AI that diverts man from his ultimate end is incorrect and must be corrected. Man’s true fulfillment is not in technology but in union with God, and AI, properly used, can help him achieve this goal.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence, by its very nature, lacks the capacity to discern between good and evil. It does not possess a moral conscience nor the ability to direct its actions toward the good. It is, ultimately, a tool that, like any other, can be used for good or for ill, depending on who directs it and for what purposes it is implemented. This reality places immense responsibility on those who design, develop, and use AI. The human being, endowed with reason and will, is the only one who can establish the ethical principles that must guide the use of this technology.

When properly directed, AI can be a powerful means of promoting virtues such as justice, efficiency, and the common good. However, it can also be used for contrary purposes, fostering exploitation, inequality, or even dehumanization. This is why responsibility rests fully on those involved in every stage of AI’s creation and use. Developers, institutions, and legislators must be clear that their decisions will shape the impact this technology will have on society and on human beings, both individually and collectively.

Since AI, in its capacity for action, can produce profound and lasting effects in all areas of human life, it is essential that the use of this technology be guided by clear, solid ethical principles grounded in the very nature of man and his ultimate end, which is God. This ethical framework must be applied consistently and coherently, avoiding any temptation to reduce morality to a simple calculation of efficiency or benefit. Only in this way can we ensure that AI is truly at the service of the person and his fulfillment.

It is essential that legislation on artificial intelligence not be limited to responding to pragmatic or immediate needs but be based on natural law, which reflects the moral order inscribed in human nature itself. This law, which is a participation of human reason in the eternal law, must guide all our decisions regarding technology, ensuring that they align with man’s ultimate end.

Moreover, the virtue of prudence, which governs the correct use of means to achieve good ends, must be central to the development and use of AI. Those who participate in the creation and application of this technology must exercise prudence to discern the consequences of their actions, always seeking the common good and avoiding any distortion that compromises human dignity and his transcendent destiny.

As a result of this profound responsibility, it is urgent and necessary to legislate on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. This legislation must be based on the principles outlined here, ensuring that AI is developed and used in accordance with the ends corresponding to human dignity and his transcendence toward God. The laws must protect the common good, promoting the fair and responsible use of technology while avoiding the abuses and distortions that can arise from its disordered use.

The future of AI is not in the hands of machines but in the decisions we make as a society. We must legislate wisely, responsibly, and with a clear vision of the principles that guide human life to ensure that technology is always a tool for good and not a source of harm. Only in this way can we ensure that AI contributes to true human progress, oriented toward the common good and, ultimately, toward man’s ultimate end, which is God.

OMO

Bibliography

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• Pieper, Josef. The Four Cardinal Virtues. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1966.

• Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (Encyclical on the Condition of Labor), 1891.

• Garrigou-Lagrange, Réginald. God, His Existence and His Nature. Madrid: BAC, 1957.