What Would Thomas Aquinas Think of Artificial Intelligence?
What Would Thomas Aquinas Think of Artificial Intelligence?
https://ewtnvatican.com/articles/thomas-aquinas-artificial-intelligence
Publish Date: 2026-01-28 13:30:00
Source Domain: ewtnvatican.com
Certainly! Here are six key points from the article:
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Thomas Aquinas’ Relevance to AI: A German theologian, Thomas Marschler, suggests that Thomas Aquinas can offer insights on philosophical and ethical aspects of AI, emphasizing Aquinas’ views on human nature and the role of technology not always equating to the true purpose of life.
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Historical Perspective on AI: Marschler notes that Aquinas couldn’t foresee technological advancements like AI, but his work still holds value in understanding the nature of intellect and the spirit-soul.
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AI vs. Aquinas’ Works: While AI-driven chatbots may simulate Aquinas’ responses, Marschler advises reading Aquinas’ actual works to genuinely grasp his thoughts.
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AI’s View on Aquinas: The large language model, or chatbot, views Aquinas as a foundational figure who blended Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine, remaining central to Christian theology.
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Resurgence of Aquinas’ Teachings: There’s notable interest and resurgence in Aquinas’ teachings today, evidenced by channels like the Thomistic Institute and recognition of Aquinas’ lasting impact on theology.
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Enduring Influence: The canonization and designation as a church teacher honor Aquinas’ significant contribution to shaping Catholic theology and continuing relevance among contemporary theologians.
This summary highlights the multifaceted relationship between Aquinas’ teachings and modern technological discourse, including AI.