“We need a new humanism, a digital humanism”. It is peremptory Antonella SciarroneAlibrandi, Vice Rector of theCatholic University of Milan. For the professor of Economic Law, digital technologies – due to the global impact they have on our lives – “must be addressed in a humanistic and, I would say, holistic key”. This will be discussed on Monday 13 during a study day in Milan: in the morning among the professionals of the Cattolica, in the afternoon in a debate open to the public at the National Science Museum (to book: cortiledeigentili.com). Here at 5 pm the meeting “Post-human, superhuman or simply human?” Is held, organized by the Catholic university itself (in the centenary year) with the scientific consultation of the Courtyard of the Gentiles, the body of the Pontifical Council for Culture that promotes dialogue between believers and non-believers.
At the debate – moderated by the director of Corriere della Sera, Luciano Fontana – the Minister for Ecological Transition will speak, Roberto Cingolani. They open Lorenzo Ornaghi, president of the Science Museum and a video message from the cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture. The introduction is by the rector of the Cattolica Franco Anelli and of Giuliano Amato, vice president of the Constitutional Court who also chairs the scientific consultancy of the Cortile dei Gentili. Then there will be Sciarrone herself, the theologian Paolo Benanti, Laura Palazzani, vice president of the National Bioethics Committee, e Silvano Petrosino, professor of Theoretical Philosophy.
«The Catholic University has long been engaged in reflecting on the impact that technology has on man. Issues that with Covid have gone from being topics for academics to everyday problems for everyone », Professor Sciarrone continues. «We have created a laboratory that has the ambition to become a reference point on these issues: Htlab, Humane Technology Lab, directed by the psychologist Giuseppe Riva. And we have eight interdisciplinary projects on the relationship between man and technology ».
One of the issues raised by the pandemic is the impact of digital technology on human relationships. «Suddenly – emphasizes the Vice Rector of the Cattolica – educational, work and friendship relationships have shifted from the real to the virtual. How to use digital possibilities without them distorting us? It is not just an easy contrast between technophiles and technophobes ».
Then there is the theme of «human enhancement» – the overcoming of natural limits through technological tools – which, Sciarrone emphasizes, «offers great opportunities but raises serious ethical questions. For this we need good governance ». But will the rules keep up with the speed of development? “A phenomenon which by definition is global needs international standards. Europe is very active, with a proposal for a regulation on artificial intelligence that was presented in the spring. An ambitious text that has a correct transversal approach ».
Giuliano Amato asks himself: «Can artificial intelligence make us human beings who no longer make mistakes, who lose responsibility for what they choose? The hypothesis of the superhuman is looming which, as Laura Palazzani wrote Human enhancement, risks becoming the tool of a super power that makes use of it. A chilling question but one that we have before us ».
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