SA国际传媒

By SA国际传媒 staff writer

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is organizing a conference titled 鈥淧romoting Integral Human Development and Peace in the Digital Age. New technologies in the post-covid world.鈥�

Scheduled for 9 December, the event will take place both online and in-person, at the Sala Etchegaray at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, from 14:00 鈥� 18:00 pm CET (or 8:00 鈥� 12:00 EST).

The conference is the result of a collaboration between the dicastery, the Vatican Covid-19 Commission, the Diplo Foundation, Torino SA国际传媒 Affairs Institute, Pax Christi International and the Catholic University of America.

Artificial Intelligence

Ethical reflection on post-pandemic society

The event is aimed at bringing to light emerging moral and ethical questions related to the impact of technologies on the post-pandemic world with a view towards creating new approaches to integral human development and peace.

A statement from the Dicastery announcing the conference highlights that the Covid-19 pandemic has widely affected the entire spectrum of human activity, and has piqued global reflection on the structures and phenomena that govern the world. Notable among these is the rapid development of new types of technologies, new generations of artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain, the internet of things and 5G technologies.

These developments, the statement notes, are seldom accompanied by moral reflection. Hence, the importance of a 鈥渃omprehensive moral and ethical framework鈥� without which these rapid technological advancements 鈥渞isk sharpening inequalities and leaving the most marginalized behind.鈥� More so, a far-reaching moral vision could 鈥渃ould set these technologies towards minimizing harm and serving integral human development.鈥�

Pope Francis, in 鈥�, has also called for a shift away from the technocratic paradigm (LS 106). The conference will therefore aim to 鈥渃ontribute to the global dialogue on the role of new technologies in the post-pandemic era with a view towards integral ecology, justice, an integrated 鈥淥ne Health for All鈥� approach, and a more communal economic system.鈥�

Format

The event will feature in-person and virtual participation from speakers during sessions streamed live on the YouTube accounts of the Dicastery in English, with simultaneous interpretation in Italian and Spanish. It will begin with an introduction, followed by two sessions deepening reflection on the theoretical role and practical implications of new technologies, including a presentation on the work of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission鈥檚 New Technology for Peace and Integral Human Development Working Group.

Experts will offer scientific and ethical analysis, along with case studies, showcasing how new technologies can be placed at the service of integral human development especially in the fields of food security, healthcare 鈥� including promoting fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, dignified labor, peace and security, and promotion of a communal economy. Crucial questions will also be raised regarding the use of technologies and their impact in the light of Pope Francis鈥� Laudato si鈥� and Fratelli tutti Encyclical letters.