RT Article
T1 Human-Level, but Non-Humanlike: Artificial Intelligence and a Multi-Level Relational Interpretation of the Imago Dei
JF Philosophy, theology and the sciences
VO 8
IS 1
SP 81
OP 107
A1 Dorobantu, Marius
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1802099980
AB The doctrine of the imago Dei is central for theological anthropology, but its meaning is still being disputed. With many equally appealing competing interpretations, it does not seem likely that a solution can emerge on theological grounds alone. This paper argues that a surprising lifeline can be found in dialogue with the nascent field of artificial intelligence (AI). Looking at where AI currently struggles in its attempt to replicate human cognition and behavior provides strong clues that relationality is key for human distinctiveness. A hypothetical strong AI might achieve human-level intelligence, but it would likely be very non-humanlike. In such a scenario, human distinctiveness could best be accounted for by a relational interpretation, but one structured on multiple levels of varying theological commitment.
K1 Strong artificial intelligence
K1 Relationality
K1 Personhood
K1 Imago Dei
K1 Human distinctiveness
DO 10.1628/ptsc-2021-0006