The Auron MacIntyre Show Identity in a Digital Age | Guest: Mary Harrington | 11/7/25
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Nov 7, 2025 Mary Harrington, a writer and commentator focused on culture and feminism, joins to discuss identity in the digital age. They explore how modern technology commodifies our inherent traits, leading to a struggle for meaning and belonging. Mary traces the concept of identity's evolution through literacy and critiques AI, distinguishing it from true thought. The conversation delves into the importance of reembodiment, the rise of intentional communities, and the ethical implications of biotechnology, highlighting the need for theological frameworks to navigate these challenges.
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Identity As An Information-Tech Mutation
- The modern term 'identity' is a recent secular mutation of the older concept of the soul tied to literacy and print culture.
- Mary Harrington links shifts in self-understanding to information revolutions: literacy, print, and now digital technologies.
Commodifying Soul Parts Through Tech
- Postwar culture has technologized human capacities: eros, thumos, and logos are being commodified by devices, media, and AI.
- Harrington argues AI aims to commodify logos but will likely produce automation, not true artificial consciousness.
Name What You Mean: Soul Not Identity
- Stop treating identity as an empty container and begin naming what we're actually discussing: the human soul.
- Recognize what's being automated so we can choose what to protect or slow down.
