The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

WOF 500: Catholic Social Thought in the Age of AI

53 snips

Jul 28, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Robert Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester and founder of Word on Fire, delves into the relevance of Catholic social thought amid the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics. He explores fundamental concepts like human dignity, solidarity, and the common good. Barron questions how these principles apply to the changing landscape of work and creativity. He also tackles the philosophical divide between science and faith, offering insights on how the Church can navigate the complexities of modern technological advancements.

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INSIGHT

Fundamental Human Dignity

Human dignity is the foundational Catholic social teaching principle grounded in being made in God's image.
It warns against reducing people to mere cogs in social or economic systems.

INSIGHT

Common Good Explained

The common good is the social conditions enabling full personal flourishing, not just a majority benefit.
It balances the flourishing of the individual and the community holistically.

INSIGHT

Solidarity as Divine Connection

Solidarity means we are intimately connected by our shared creation in God.
Our individual flourishing is linked; no one should flourish at another's expense.

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In taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the new pope has signaled that the Church finds itself in an era marked by tumultuous social change. The question remains whether the Catholic social thought of his predecessor Leo XIII’s time is still applicable today given the radically different world we now live in—a world increasingly defined by the rise and possible dominance of artificial intelligence, robotics entering into mainstream life, the breakdown of regular physical contact among people, and the rise of transhumanism. Can Catholic social thought help us to navigate these uncharted waters?

A listener asks: How does one respond to “Science doesn’t care what you believe”?

Links:

Goldman Sachs citation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/03/31/goldman-sachs-predicts-300-million-jobs-will-be-lost-or-degraded-by-artificial-intelligence/
Word on Fire resources on artificial intelligence: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/
Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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