Rerum Novarum and Our Modern AI Moment - Part Four

Part One: Paragraphs 1-11, Sections 1 and 2; Introduction and Contra Socialism

Part Two: Paragraphs 12-31, Sections 3 and 4; Society and Socialism and The Role of the Church

Part Three: Paragraphs 32-59: The Proper Role of the State and Associations

Reminder: This is my untrained analysis of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. This document can be found here. I will refer to His Holiness as Leo for simplicity and all quotes are drawn from the current paragraph summarized, in less otherwise noted. I will aim to divide up the paragraphs of Rerum Novarum - this is my division not a formal one - based on the topics Pope Leo addresses. Today I'll continue through a section on

AI Generated fighters for Justice

Section 7: Paragraphs 60-64 Closing

Paragraph 60: Pope Leo XIII ends by recognizing that the "condition of the working classes is the pressing question of the hour." Associations, wisdom, and charity can promote the proper resolution of this crisis.

P61: This proper alignment would usher forth hope - proper associations would plant a seed and call laborers to the Faith and "helping them out of their difficulties, inviting them to companionship and receiving the returning wanderers to a haven where they may securely find repose."

P62: All are called to work at this task immediately. Rulers should work within the political sphere for justice, owners be mindful of their duty towards justice, and laborers should lawfully push for justice. The "main thing needful is to re-establish Christian morals" which support this call to justice.

P63: This call extends to the Church: "Every minister of holy religion must bring to the struggle the full energy of his mind and all his power of endurance."

P64: A blessing is bestowed.

Fin.

Discussion

This last section is interesting in its intense call for participation of the whole Church. We could certainly see Pope Leo XIV echoing Pope Leo III in pushing the laity and clerical establishments to cooperate together in pushing through a just vision of Artificial Intelligence.

We know and see the potential issues that have arisen or are arising. We also see that industry and government are struggling to regulate abuses on multiple fronts. This is especially important in the worldwide context, especially given the Church's worldwide role. Rather than echoing the short document, Antiqua et Nova, a future document must provide concrete delineation of the good and bad of AI.

Antique et Nova serves as an admirable basis for considering what is human and what is artificial intelligence and where those distinctions lie. The societal and economic impact is mentioned by the Dicastaries for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Culture and Education but not clearly spoken to beyond basic considerations of human dignity and respect.

Just as Rerum Novarum lays out an argument against the abuses of capitalism and socialism, prior to its advocacy for associationism and solidarity guided by faith. A Rerum Novarum Artificiosum should not only lay out a strong argument against the aspects of AI that impugn on dignity of labor and self; but articulate a proper middle path for integration of AI within the life of Catholics in the secular world and its proper use in Catholic environments. Whether Pope Leo XIV is capable of harnessing the power of the theologians of today's Church to do so is a different consideration.

My initial attempts to do so can be found here: "The Promise and Peril of Chatbots: A Framework"

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