Manhattan University Responds to Magnifica Humanitas
“In order to protect the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, I believe that today we must once again reflect on the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and social justice…I would like to encourage academic institutions and universities to give fresh impetus to these principles, and to apply them in a way that will be relevant and effective in addressing the digital revolution.”
Leo PP. XIV
In Magnifica Humanitas, delivered earlier this month, Pope Leo compels us to prioritize the dignity of the human being in the age of artificial intelligence, reflecting on the vital distinction between persons and machines. The encyclical is a call to action for Catholics and all people of good will to attune themselves to this moment of inflection, as the technocratic paradigm threatens to divert the trajectory of history away from human progress.
As a Lasallian institution with long ties to Catholic social teaching, Manhattan University welcomes with gratitude Pope’s Leo’s guidance and recognizes the difficult but imperative work ahead. As the host institution of Dorothy Day’s cause for canonization, we celebrate her inclusion in the document as a role model of hope and change in this present moment. We respond to the Magnifica Humanitas with a pledge to shepherd our students, as whole persons, through this era of technological upheaval with an educational program of critical thinking, collaboration, and human creativity.
“Without careful attention, an educational system lacking in a love for truth may emerge, in which an incessant flow of information replaces the essential exercise of research, reflection and discernment. As knowledge becomes increasingly fragmented, it becomes difficult to grasp reality as a whole, to ask profound questions about meaning, or to develop authentic, critical and creative thought.”
Manhattan’s ARCH Innovation Exchange (Analytics, Research, Creativity, Humanity) stands poised to provide an educational structure for our students that asserts the centrality of human dignity and the common good in any notion of professional success, technical talent, or social progress. Our students will have access to platforms and training in artificial intelligence as well as intentional education around the ethics of human-AI integration. Crucially, our approach will balance the pressing need for widespread literacy and aptitude with emerging technological tools with emphasis on what Pope Leo calls, hearkening back to Plato, “the essential exercise of research, reflection, and discernment.”
In early fall, the ARCH Innovation Exchange and the Dorothy Day Center will host a University-wide forum with invited guests to discuss components of the Encyclical that should guide the next phase of Catholic higher education. Over the academic year, a series of discussions will take place on such themes as “The Future of Work,” “An Educational Alliance for a Digital Age,” “Against Optimization,” and “Human Connection in the Era of AI.”
Teaching new generations that technological evolution does not follow a predetermined path, but can be guided by personal and collective responsibility, constitutes one of the most valuable services to the common good.
According to Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., Provost and Professor of English; Kevin Ahern, Ph. D., Director of the Dorothy Day Center and Professor and Chair of Religious Studies and Philosophy; and Brother Augustine Nicoletti, FSC, Ed. D., Vice President for Mission, Manhattan University embraces the charge of the Magnifica Humanitas with faith, determination, and intellectual rigor. On the occasion of the Encyclical’s release, we affirm our Lasallian educational mission of preparing graduates for lives of purpose, and commit to ensuring that the development and application of artificial intelligence remain firmly rooted in human dignity, solidarity, and the common good.
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About Manhattan University
Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Lasallian Catholic institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. Manhattan University offers programs that integrate a broad liberal arts education coupled with a concentration in specific disciplines in the arts and sciences with professional preparation in business and engineering, ensuring graduates will excel in their chosen fields. The University consists of the Kakos School of Arts & Sciences, the O’Malley School of Business, and the School of Engineering. For further information, please visit www.manhattan.edu.