Homo Viator or Algorithmus Viator?

A Thomistic Analysis of Pilgrimage in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Debates on AI primarily focus on its moral implications and capacity to simulate religious experiences. However, an analysis of pilgrimage offers a unique perspective on broader transformations in religious practice, ranging from traditional spiritual journeys to modern, technology-assisted routes organized by travel agencies. Equipped with technological conveniences, emphasize efficiency and participant satisfaction, raising theological questions about the essence of pilgrimage itself. Used thomistic structure of argumentation (objections, counterarguments, and response) to examine three key issues: (1) whether AI can participate in a pilgrimage in a spiritual sense, (2) whether technological elimination of hardship diminishes the transformative potential of pilgrimage, and (3) whether cyberpilgrimage constitutes a legitimate alternative to physical pilgrimage.

Drawing on classical metaphysics and contemporary AI research, the study argues that AI, lacking a rational soul, free will, and an intrinsic orientation toward transcendence, cannot be considered homo viator. Furthermore, the removal of physical hardship may undermine the ascetic and transformative dimensions of pilgrimage. The analysis of cyberpilgrimage suggests that, while psychologically engaging, virtual experiences do not replace the sacramental and embodied nature of spiritual journeys. This study contributes to the discourse on spirituality in the digital age, proposing a balanced approach that reconciles tradition with technological advancements while reaffirming the relevance of Thomistic anthropology in addressing contemporary challenges.