Artificial intelligence, truth and wisdom: A Franciscan perspective

Martín Carbajo-Núñez OFM


Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome, Italy (Italy)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-5688

Abstract

This article delves into how to live in truth and attain wisdom in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), using the Franciscan Tradition as a guide and reference. While AI can help expand our knowledge, it also blurs the line between truth and falsehood (1st part). The second part, drawing on Socrates' reflections on writing, explores the evolving concept of wisdom in the context of AI. The third part examines how the Franciscan Tradition has approached truth and wisdom. It is concluded that the Franciscan holistic and relational perspective can guide the development of AI towards creating a more humane and fraternal world.


Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Truth, Wisdom, Franciscan Tradition, Ecclesiastical Magisterium, Socrates

PAUL VI. (1966, 14 July). Apostolic Letter. Alma parens. AAS, 58, 609–614.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1551-8833.1966.tb01619.x   Google Scholar

JOHN PAUL II. (1996, 25 March). Vita consecrate. Post-synodal apostolic exhortation. AAS, 88, 377–486.
  Google Scholar

RATZINGER, J. A. (2000, 13 Nov.). Self-Presentation of Card. Joseph Ratzinger as member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_self-presentation.html
  Google Scholar

BENEDICT XVI. (2005, 25 Dec.). Deus caritas est. Encyclical letter. AAS, 98, 217–252.
  Google Scholar

BENEDICT XVI. (2008a, 6 Oct.). Address at the opening of the 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Ecclesia, 3436, 26.
  Google Scholar

BENEDICT XVI. (2008b, 20 Oct.). Apostolic letter on the 7th centenary of the death of blessed John Duns Scotus. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/ apost_ letters/documents/hf_ben-xvi_apl_20081028_duns-scoto.html
  Google Scholar

BENEDICTO XVI. (2009, 29 June). Caritas in veritate. Encyclical letter. AAS, 101, 641–709.
  Google Scholar

BENEDICT XVI. (2009, 2 Dec.). General audience. Osservatore Romano, 1.
  Google Scholar

BENEDICT XVI. (2010, 17 March). General audience. Insegnamenti di Benedetto XVI, 6 (1), 340–345.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS. (2013, 24 Nov.). Evangelii gaudium. Apostolic exhortation. AAS, 105, 1019–1137.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS. (2015, 24 May). Laudato si’. Encyclical letter. AAS, 107, 847–945.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS (2020, 28 Feb.). Address to participants in the general assembly of the Pontifical academy for life. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2020/february/ documents/papa-francesco_20200228_accademia-perlavita.html.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS (2024a, 1 Jan.). Message for the 57th World Day of Peace. Osservatore Romano, 286, 3.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS. (2024b, 24 Jan.). Message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications. Osservatore Romano, 19, 8.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS. (2024c, 14 June). Address at the G7 session on Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/june/documents/20240614-g7-intelligenza-artificiale.html
  Google Scholar

AGUSTINUS HIPPONENSIS. (2020). Las confesiones. Madrid: Palabra.
  Google Scholar

AGUSTINUS HIPPONENSIS. (1968). De Trinitate (PL XLII). Turnholti: Brepols.
  Google Scholar

ARISTOTELES. (2022). Ética a Nicómaco. Barcelona: RBA.
  Google Scholar

ARISTOTLE. (2011). Nicomachean ethics. Chicago: Chicago UP.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226026763.001.0001   Google Scholar

ARMSTRONG, R. J., HELLMANN, W. J. A., SHORT, W. J. (Eds.). (2001). Francis of Assisi: Early documents (3 vol.). New York: New City Press .
  Google Scholar

ATLESON, M. (2023, 20 March). Chatbots, deepfakes, and voice clones: AI deception for sale. Retrieved from: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/03/chatbots-deepfakes-voice-clones-ai-deception-sale
  Google Scholar

BANVARD, J. (1855). Wisdom, wit, and whims of distinguished ancient philosophers. New York: Sheldon, Lamport & Blakeman. (Reprint: HardPress, 2020).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/25526860   Google Scholar

BATTAGLIA, V. (2011). Sentimenti e bellezza del Signore Gesù: Cristologia e contemplazione 3. Bologna: EDB.
  Google Scholar

BISSI, A. (2017). Discernimento e corso della vita. CredereOggi, 37 (5), 99–111.
  Google Scholar

BLAKE, L. (2001). John Chrysostom on the Seductions of the Theater. Studia Patristica, 37, 427–434.
  Google Scholar

BLANCO CARRERO, E. E. (2018). El concepto de 'phrónesis': desde Aristóteles hasta Francis de Suárez. Mutatis Mutandis, 10, 93–116.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69967/07194773.v1i10.28   Google Scholar

BROUSSARD, M. 2019. Artificial unintelligence: how computers misunderstand the world. Cambridge: MIT Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/11022.001.0001   Google Scholar

BONAVENTURE. (1891a). Breviloquium. In: BONAVENTURE, Opera omnia (V). Quaracchi: Typ. Collegii S. Bonaventurae
  Google Scholar

BONAVENTURE. (1891b). Itinerarium mentis in Deum. In: BONAVENTURE, Opera omnia (V). Quaracchi: Typ. Collegii S. Bonaventurae.
  Google Scholar

BONAVENTURE. (1882–1902). Opera omnia (10 vols.). Quaracchi: Typ. Collegii S. Bonaventurae.
  Google Scholar

CARBAJO-NÚÑEZ, M. (2024a). Educación e inteligencia artificial. El papel de la familia. Estudios Franciscanos, 125(475).
  Google Scholar

CARBAJO-NÚÑEZ, M. (2024b). Inteligencia artificial y humanismo de fraternidad. Estudios Franciscanos, 125 (475).
  Google Scholar

CHRYSOSTOM, J. (2023). Homilía contra los juegos circenses y el teatro. PG, 56. [En español: Salmanticensis, 70–1, 39–68].
  Google Scholar

DUNS SCOTUS, J. (1950). Ordinatio. In: J. DUNS SCOTUS, Opera Omnia, studio et cura Commissioni Scotisticae ad fidem codicum edita (XXIV: II–VI). Vatican City: LEV.
  Google Scholar

DUNS SCOTUS, J. (1891–1895). Reportatio Parisiensis. IN: J. DUNS SCOTUS, Opera omnia (I–IV). París: Vivès L.
  Google Scholar

DESCARTES, R. (2013). Discours de la méthode. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
  Google Scholar

DESCARTES, R. (2017). Discurso del método y Meditaciones metafísicas. Madrid: Tecnos.
  Google Scholar

FAGAN, G. G. (2011). The Lure of the Arena: Social Psychology and the Crowd at the Roman Games. New York: Cambridge UP.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS OF Assisi. (2001a). Admonitions. In: R. J. ARMSTRONG, W. J. A HELLMANN, W. J. SHORT (Eds.), Francis of Assisi: Early documents (128–137). New York: New City Press.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS OF ASSISI. (2001b). A Letter to the entire Order. In: R. J. ARMSTRONG, W. J. A. HELLMANN, W. J. SHORT (Eds.), Francis of Assisi: Early documents (116–121). New York: New City Press.
  Google Scholar

FRANCIS OF ASSISI.(2001c). The prayer before the Crucifix (PrCr), I. In: R. J. ARMSTRONG, W. J. A HELLMANN, W. J. SHORT (Eds.), Francis of Assisi: Early documents (40–41). New York: New City Press.
  Google Scholar

GADAMER, H.-G. (2014). Truth and method, Bloomsbury Academic. London.
  Google Scholar

GOODFELLOW, I. J., BENGIO, Y., COURVILLE, A. (2017). Deep Learning. MIT press, Cambridge (MA).
  Google Scholar

HEIDEGGER, M. (1962). Being and time. London: SCM.
  Google Scholar

HEIDEGGER, M. (2005). Ser y tiempo. Santiago de Chile: Editorial Universitaria.
  Google Scholar

HUXLEY, A. (2014). Brave new world. Massachusetts: Ipswich.
  Google Scholar

HUXLEY, A. (2017). Un mundo feliz. Barcelona: Delbolsillo.
  Google Scholar

IUNII IUVENALIS, D. (2004). Satura X (P. Campana, Ed.). Firenze: Mondadori.
  Google Scholar

KIM TAE, W., SCHELLER-WOLF, A. (2019). Technological unemployment, meaning in life, purpose of business, and the future of stakeholders. in Journal of Business Ethics, 160. 319–337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04205-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04205-9   Google Scholar

LACTANTIUS Lucius, C.F. (2009). Divinae Institutiones, V–VI. Monachii: Saur.
  Google Scholar

LAERTIUS Diogenes et alii, 2005). Vite e dottrine dei più celebri filosofi. Milano: Bompiani.
  Google Scholar

LÁZARO PULIDO, M. (2013). El amor a la verdad en la escuela franciscana (siglo XIII). Pensamiento, 69 (259), 351–367.
  Google Scholar

LOMAS, K., CORNELL, T. (eds.). (2003). Bread and circuses: Euergetism and municipal patronage in Roman Italy. London: Routledge.
  Google Scholar

LUGARESI, L. (2011, 16 Feb.). I padri della Chiesa fra teatro e Internet. Osservatore Romano , 4.
  Google Scholar

LUGARESI, L. (2008). Il teatro di Dio. Il problema degli spettacoli nel cristianesimo antico (II–IV secolo). Brescia: Morcelliana.
  Google Scholar

LYNCH, J. (2012). The Scent of Lemons: Technology and relationships in the age of Facebook. London: Darton Longman & Todd.
  Google Scholar

MARTÍNEZ FRESNEDA, F. (ed.). (2020). Saber y sabor de Dios en Cristo. Pensamiento Franciscano. Murcia: Espigas.
  Google Scholar

MIGNE, J. P. (1857–1866). Patrologia graeca. Paris: Garnier.
  Google Scholar

MITCHELL, M. (2019). Artificial intelligence: A guide for thinking humans. London: Penguin.
  Google Scholar

NUSSBAUM, M. C. (2001). The fragility of goodness: Luck and ethics in Greek tragedy and philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511817915   Google Scholar

PLATO. (2014). Fedro, Madrid: Gredos.
  Google Scholar

PLATO. ( 2019). La República. Madrid: Alianza.
  Google Scholar

PLATO. (2011). Phaedrus. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511977237   Google Scholar

PLATO. (2009). The republic. Waiheke Island: Floating Press.
  Google Scholar

POSTMAN, N. ( 2006). Amusing ourselves to death: public discourse in the age of show business. New York: Penguin.
  Google Scholar

POSTMAN, N. (2012). Divertirse hasta morir: el discurso público en la era del “show business”. Barcelona: Tempestad..
  Google Scholar

RUSSELL, B. (1975). La perspectiva científica. Barcelona: Ariel.
  Google Scholar

RUSSELL, B . (2017). The Scientific Outlook, London: Taylor and Francis.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315085289   Google Scholar

RUSSELL, B. (2009). The scientific outlook. London: Routledge.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203875384   Google Scholar

SADEGHI, M. et al. (2024, 1 July). Tracking AI-enabled Misinformation. NewsGuard. Retrieved from: https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-reports/ai-tracking-center/
  Google Scholar

SCHELER, M. (2013). Der Formalismus in der Ethik und die materiale Wertethik, eBook. Salzwasser: Paderborn.
  Google Scholar

SCHELER, M. (2016). Wesen und Formen der Sympathie. Hamburg: Meiner.
  Google Scholar

SEN, N. B. (ed.) (1967). Wit and Wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle… New Delhi: New Book Society of India.
  Google Scholar

SENECA, L. A. (1989). Epistulae morales ad Lucilium. In: L. A SENECA, Lettere a Lucilio (I, 228). Milano: Garzanti.
  Google Scholar

SENECA, L. A. (1809). Ad Lucilium Epistolae Morales. Strasburg.
  Google Scholar

Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. (2016). XV ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS. Vatican City: LEV.
  Google Scholar

TERTULLIANUS, Q. S. F. (1839). De spectaculis. Lipsiae.
  Google Scholar

UBERTINO DA CASALE. (2007). Árbol de la vida crucificada. Murcia: Espigas.
  Google Scholar

WILLIAM OF ST-THIERRY. (1981). De natura et dignitate amoris. Kalamazoo, Mich: Cistercian Pub.
  Google Scholar

WILLIAM OF ST-THIERRY. (2023). Naturaleza y dignidad del amor = De natura et dignitate amoris. Salamanca: Sígueme
  Google Scholar

VALLEJO CAMPOS, Á. (2004). El concepto aristotélico de phrónesis y la hermenéutica de Gadamer. In: J. J. Acero Fernández (ed.), El legado de Gadamer. Granada: Universidad de Granada.
  Google Scholar

VERMA, P. (2023, 17 Dec.). The rise of AI fake news is creating a ‘misinformation superspreader’. The Washington Post. (Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/12/17/ai-fake-news-misinformation/)
  Google Scholar

XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (2016), Preparatory document: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment, LEV, Vatican City.
  Google Scholar

Download


Published
2024-07-31

Cited by

Carbajo-Núñez OFM, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence, truth and wisdom: A Franciscan perspective. Warsaw Theological Studies, 37(1), 164–187. https://doi.org/10.30439/WST.2024.1.9

Authors

Martín Carbajo-Núñez OFM 

Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome, Italy Italy
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2814-5688

Martín Cabajo-Núñez OFM - Prof. dr., born in Zamora, Spain, Martín Carbajo Núñez, OFM has lived in Rome since 1995, where he currently teaches ethics and communication at two universities: the Antonianum (Pontifical University Antonianum or PUA) and the Alfonsianum (Pontifical Lateran University or PUL). At the PUA, he has served as Vice-Rector and Rector Magnificus ad interim for three years. He also teaches regularly in Spain and the USA. Professor Carbajo studies the relevance of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition in formulating a global ethic and facing the challenges of the new digital age. He also studies journalistic deontology in regard to informational privacy, e-mail: mcarbajon@gmail.com.



Statistics

Abstract views: 20
PDF downloads: 16


License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The journal is available free-of-charge and according to the Open Access regulations (as a PDF file on the website). The authors do not incur any costs related to publication. The journal is published in accordance with the Creative Commons license standard:  CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution – NoDerivatives 4.0 International)  and does not follow a concrete policy of conducting research. By submitting the article, the author gives the consent to such a form of sharing the text. The authors of the published articles retain their copyrights.