杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

As it meets for its general assembly this week, the Pontifical Academy for Life is holding a two-day workshop focused on the ethical aspects of the so-called 鈥淐onverging Technologies鈥� (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Cognitive Science).

Entitled 鈥淐onverging on the person: Emerging Technologies for the Common Good鈥�, the international workshop is taking place on 20-21 February with the participation of academics from around the world.

In his address to the participants on Monday, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted three important challenges in this delicate field 鈥渨here progress, ethics and society meet, and where," he said, "faith, in its perennial relevance, can provide a valuable contribution.鈥�

The impact of technological advances on human living conditions

The first challenge is the rapid change brought by technological progress in humanity's living conditions. Indeed, the 杏MAP导航 noted, the "strength and acceleration鈥� of these advances are having an unprecedented impact on the environment and on human living conditions, 鈥渨ith effects and developments that are not always clear and predictable鈥�, as shown by the multiple crises the world is facing today, from the pandemic to the energy crisis, from  climate change to migration. Therefore, 鈥渉ealthy technological development cannot fail to take this complex interweaving into account鈥�.

Technology cannot replace human contact and must not forget the vulnerable

The second challenge is the impact of new technologies on the definitions of "humanity" and "relationship", especially with regard to the condition of vulnerable individuals. Noting that the technological form of human experience is becoming ever more 鈥減ervasive鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed the need for 鈥渁 serious reflection on the very value of humanity鈥�, and in particular to 鈥渞eaffirm the importance of the concept of personal conscience as a relational experience, which cannot disregard either corporality or culture.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 went on to remark that even within scientific research processes, the relationship between the person and the community signals 鈥渋ncreasingly complex ethical implications鈥�, for example in the health sector, where he highlighted the urgent need to guarantee equal access to care 鈥渆specially for the most fragile persons such as the disabled, the sick and the poor .鈥�

Technology and cultures

This is why, he said, it is important 鈥渢o monitor the speed of transformations, the interaction between changes and the possibility of guaranteeing an overall balance鈥�, also keeping in mind that this balance is different in different cultures.

Promoting mutual understanding between science, technology and society

Finally, the third challenge is the definition of the concept of knowledge and the resulting consequences. Noting that 鈥渢he type of knowledge we implement already has in itself moral implications鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 underscored the need for more 鈥渁rticulated models鈥�, considering 鈥� the intertwining of relationships of which the single events are woven鈥� instead of simplistic approaches.

In this regard, he remarked that the idea highlighted in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and above all in his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si' of a human-centred technical knowledge based on the principle that "the whole is greater than the part鈥�,  and that "everything in the world is intimately connected鈥�, can foster a 鈥渞enewed way of thinking also in the theological sphere鈥�.  In fact, he said, 鈥渋t is good that theology continues to overcome eminently apologetic approaches, to contribute to the definition of a new humanism and to encourage mutual listening and mutual understanding between science, technology and society.鈥�

Role of religions

杏MAP导航 Francis also highlighted the crucial contribution religious traditions can give to this dialogue, noting that their ancient wisdom 鈥渃an help in these processes.鈥�

Concluding, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the Pontifical Academy for Life to continue its commitment to ensure that 鈥渟cientific and technological growth is increasingly reconciled with a parallel development of the human being", insisting on the importance of 鈥渢rans-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration鈥� to address these complex issues.