CST Reading Group: Magnifica humanitas

Wednesday, Sept 13
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Geddes Hall Coffee House

Are you interested in reading Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas? The Institute for Social Concerns is leading a reading group with students this fall to go through the background on Catholic social teaching and the Church’s teaching on technology and artificial intelligence and to provide an overview of contemporary social concerns raised by the pope. We’ll provide you with a copy of the encyclical and equip you to deep dive into it over four weeks. Join us!

Schedule

September 16: At this introductory meeting, we will distribute copies of the encyclical and provide an overview of its framing and context. We’ll introduce you to what you need to know to read it.

September 23: Discussion of chapters 1 and 2. The focus this week will be on the history of Catholic social teaching and the biblical framing for the document. Are we building a Tower of Babel or the City of God?

September 30: Discussion of chapter 3. We will focus on AI and the human person and will discuss the need for vigilance when engaging with this new technology.

October 7: Discussion of chapters 4 and 5. We will focus on AI and war and the corresponding need to develop a culture of love.