Philosophy and Canon Law

AI Robot – Companion, Friend or Competitor of Human Being?

Krzysztof T. Wieczorek — 2023-01-04

Robots are becoming part of people’s everyday surroundings. Therefore, the formation and change of people’s attitude towards objects equipped with artificial intelligence is becoming an important subject of reflection. Substantial research has already been conducted, but few predictions have been made about the future relationship between humanity and autonomous, multi-tasking and highly advanced artificial intelligence. The purpose of this article is an attempt at extrapolating the evolution of the human-robot bond so far, from alienation and a sense of threat toward tameness, affection and even―perhaps―friendship. The study of the evolution of the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence makes it also possible to
deepen our understanding of who human beings are, what their needs, expectations, and hopes are, and which of them can be realized through close cooperation between humans and artificial intelligence.

Googlism – Man’s New “Religion” in the Digital Age

Karol Jasiński — 2023-03-26

The aim of this paper is to present the main premises of googlism and to characterize the various ways of understanding it. The paper comprises two main parts: the first part presents the main elements of googlism (the doctrine, moral principles, the cult and the community), which makes it resemble a religion in its conventional meaning. However, it emphasizes that the similarity to a religion is only superficial since one crucial element is missing: the affirmation of a supernatural and personal Absolute and an existential, dynamic and holistic interpersonal relation between It and man. Sacralization and deification of a search engine can hardly be regarded as a constitutive element of a religion. The second part contains characteristics of googlism as a lay religion, with the sacrum reduced to natural aspects as a result of technology sacralization; a digital religion, that is, a technological space which favors the creation of new religious content and practice; the “new spirituality” of the man of the era of a digital revolution; and, finally, a “joke religion,” which is a parody of religious life.

Scholē as a Way of Learning to Be Human in the Age of the Internet

Pavol Dancák — 2023-06-29

The article offers a brief philosophical reflection on scholē and human being in the context of the Internet. The first part of the article shortly explains the urgency of the problems that arise from the extensive use of the Internet, such as addiction to digital devices, being constantly connected to the Internet and receiving unreliable information. The second part of the article offers a reflection of scholē (leisure) as a space for transcendence which is a very important attribute of the human being and which is the foundation of our culture. Scholē is an organic component of culture and education, and leisure presents not the cessation of work, but a work of a rather different kind, the work restored to its human meaning, as a celebration and
a festival. The article concludes that scholē provides us with precise and true information about what the human person essentially needs.

Man “Extended” by Media and Technology: Ethical Considerations

Mariusz Wojewoda — 2023-06-29

Modern man uses a wide range of technical and media tools. The term “techne,” while referring to things and skills, also denotes man’s connections with these objects. The influence of techne on the functioning of the human person is mutual; as we adapt the tools to our needs, we also change ourselves by using modern technologies. James J. Gibson’s concept of affordance and Andy Clark’s concept of the extended mind allow us accurately to describe the relationship between the human mind, man’s cognitive abilities and actions, and the external environment. In this article, the Author addresses the technical, media- and communication-related aspects of this environment. The article’s concluding section is devoted to the ethical consequences of technical and media extension of man and the frame of reference for these considerations is supplied by Karol Wojtyła’s concept of the human person.

Opportunities and Pitfalls for Young People in the Online Space

Peter Vansač — 2023-06-29

The purpose of this paper is to point out the opportunities and pitfalls of the virtual environment for children and young people. We start with the analysis of a technocratic paradigm which emphasizes a utilitarian view of the world. Technology companies not only seek to improve the design and ergonomics of their products, they also influence their products to shape people’s intentions and habits. Children and young people face the risk of digitalisation on everyday basis. Undoubtedly, technology has a positive impact on young people. In this paper, we list positives such as developing technical and creative skills, collaborating on projects, global connectivity and more. However, the Australian Psychological Society has proposed to recognize
a Problematic Internet Use (PIU) as a legitimate diagnosis—Internet addiction disorder. In addition, digital world represents other risks such as cyberbullying, cyber acquaintances, sexual abuse and many more. We also provide advice to parents on how to protect their children from possible dangers of the virtual world.

On What Is Personally Appealing on Conceptual Relativism

Daniel Dancák — 2023-03-18

Conceptual relativism is not an attractive position. Surely, it has its ups and downs, but the ups are rarely mentioned. This article has no ambition to provide a resolute groundbreaking argument in favour of the conceptual realism. It only aims to reconstruct the very basis of the given position from the defendant’s point of view, while giving a bit of a personal (or existential if you will) touch to the whole topic.The personal element in question resides in the fact that there are incommensurable percepts, experiences, even worlds which all “feel” equally real to the subjects. This is something to what realism does not seem to be able to do justice without diminishing the ontological status of the “wrong” opinions, beliefs, etc., but this does not seem
to go well with how we experience our “imperfect” realities. Conceptual relativists, however, are free from strictly distinguishing between correct and incorrect views on reality and, thus, they are able, if nothing else, to retain and appreciate the reality of our subjective worlds.

Dariusz Karłowicz (ed.), Thinking with St. John Paul II: JP2 Lectures 2020/2021 Rome–Warsaw: Angelicum University Press– Fundacja Świętego Mikołaja, 2021, 226 pp.

John Hittinger — 2023-03-18

A summary and reflection upon a series of lectures sponsored by the St. John Paul II Institute of Culture (Rome) by outstanding intellectuals from from Europe and the United States on a wide range of topics in the light of St. John Paul II's intellectual and spiritual legacy. Topics include culture, human work, foundations of ethics, art and beauty, the end of modernity, evangelization, and European identity.

Marian Machinek MSF: Nowy tęczowy świat. Próba diagnozy [The New Rainbow World: An Assessment Attempt] Pelplin: Wydawnictwo Bernardinum, 2021, 243 pp.

Pavol Dancák — 2023-03-22

Marian Machinek MSF, Nowy tęczowy świat. Próba diagnozy [The New Rainbow World: An Assessment Attempt]. Pelplin: Wydawnictwo Bernardinum, 2021, 243 pp.

Alexandru Buzalic, Anthropos—Omul Paradigmele unui model antropologic integral [Anthropos—Man. Paradigms of an Integral Anthropological Model] Târgu-Lăpuş: Galaxia Gutenberg, 2022, 228 pp.

Pavol Dancák — 2023-03-18

Alexandru Buzalic, Anthropos – Omul. Paradigmele unui model antropologic integral [Anthropos - Man. Paradigms of an integral anthropological model]. Târgu-Lăpuş: Galaxia Gutenberg, 2022, 228 pp.