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Scientia et Fides

Homo technologicus and the Recovery of a Universal Ethic: Maximus the Confessor and Romano Guardini
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Homo technologicus and the Recovery of a Universal Ethic: Maximus the Confessor and Romano Guardini

Authors

  • Nadia Delicata University of Malta http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9612-8970

Keywords

technological human, techne, theological anthropology, Laudato Sì, natural law

Abstract

On September 1st2017, Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued a Joint Message for the World Day of Prayer for Creation. The gesture reveals the church’s efforts “to breathe with two lungs” on the urgent matter of climate change and ecological sustainability. But, the church leaders have also insisted on a philosophical and religious reflection on technology if humanity is to take responsibility for the environment. In particular, they have sought to correct the wrong interpretation of the biblical imperative to “have dominion over” (Gen 1:26) the creatures of the Earth and to “subdue it” (Gen 1:28) that for centuries has condoned ecological abuse, in particular in the name of technological progress.

In this paper, I propose a theological reflection on Homo technologicusthrough the writings of the seventh century monk Maximus the Confessor and the twentieth century Catholic priest Romano Guardini. Maximus offers a systematic account of human techneas reflecting the mark of sin, while being God’s gift to assist us in stewarding creation. Guardini offers a challenging argument for the moral nature of technology in our times. In an age where technology extends human power, even as it seemingly takes on a life of its own, Maximus’ and Guardini’s insights on the “technological human” offer a renewed Christian anthropology that, in the tradition of natural law reasoning, can ground a global ethic for a “sustainable and integral development.” (Joint Message, 2017)

Author Biography

Nadia Delicata, University of Malta

Senior Lecturer,

Department of Moral and Spiritual Theology, 

Faculty of Theology

References

Bulgakov, Sergius. 2002. The Bride of the Lamb. Translated by Boris Jakim. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. 1993. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

Delicata, Nadia. 2015. “Natural Law in a Digital Age.” Journal of Moral Theology 4:1-25.

Guardini, Romano. 1998. The End of the Modern World. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books.

Jesuit European Social Centre. 2015. “Global response to Laudato sì.” Last modified November 4. http://jesc.eu/global-response-to-laudato-si/

Lollar, Joshua. 2013. “Pathos and Technê in St Maximus the Confessor.” In Knowing the Purpose of Creation through the Resurrection, edited by Maxim Vasiljevic, 223-238. Belgrade: Sebastian Press. (Kindle ed.).

Martinho-Truswell, Antone. 2018. “To automate is human.” Aeon, February 13. Accessed February 14, 2018. https://aeon.co/essays/the-offloading-ape-the-human-is-the-beast-that-automates.

Maximus the Confessor. 2014. “Ambiguum 45.” In The Ambigua: On Difficulties in the Church Fathers, vol. 2. Edited and translated by Nicholas Constas, 192-201. Harvard University Press.

Pope Francis. 24 May 2015. Laudato Sì. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Pope Francis. 1 September 2015. “Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Establishment of the "World Day Of Prayer For The Care Of Creation".” https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150806_lettera-giornata-cura-creato.html

Pope John XXIII. 1 April 1963. Pacem in Terris. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem.html

Pope Paul VI. 7 December 1965. Gaudium et Spes. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

Scientia et Fides

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Published

2018-11-15

How to Cite

1.
DELICATA, Nadia. Homo technologicus and the Recovery of a Universal Ethic: Maximus the Confessor and Romano Guardini. Scientia et Fides [online]. 15 November 2018, T. 6, nr 2, s. 33–53. [accessed 22.3.2023].
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Vol. 6 No. 2 (2018)

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Articles

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