Cacciari a Librorcia

Homo Technicus, skilled and artificial in a science fiction technological push, between artificial intelligence and studies on the genome: risks, disappointments between new possibilities of development and ethical destruction. This is the theme of the very pleasant Lectio Magistralis by Prof. Massimo Cacciari in one of the most beautiful salons in the Val d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni. The setting is a place of great charm, the Hotel Posta Marcucci slightly covered by the patina of time that overall makes it a place of spirit, culture and well-being. The occasion is the presentation of the latest work by Prof. Massimo Cacciari, Metafisica concreta, Adelphi editions, in the context of the upcoming festival I colori del Libro XV edition within toscanalibri.it and the Librorcia salon by Simone Gallorini, himself a heritage of these campaigns. The presentation starts from the introduction of Homo Technicus, so skilled in designing and drawing his own objectives in a scientific way that he trembles within common ethical limits. The only limits that modern Homo poses to himself are the economic limits that influence the feasibility of the project. Cacciari wonders like many of his fellow scientists and philosophers about the appropriateness of this modus operandi. In particular if this development applies to urgent issues such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Genome Editing. Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, already in 2022 insisted: "Personally, I think it is really crucial to discuss this right now, because the change is coming fast and we have to be ready. I feel like we can see where it is going, and certainly within five or ten years, I think, this will be absolutely possible, to manipulate embryos or germ cells, and in precise ways". A trace of anxiety in Cacciari's invitation to reflect, which pressed the passionate audience on thorny issues such as seriously risky developments, ethical challenges, the possibility for privileged groups to choose what to do with their inheritance or to impoverish the human workforce in favor of technology. The risk is there and is always the same, that is, that the wealth of knowledge is in the possession of financial, political or military lobbies. After all, it was recalled how the Nazi power had already gone beyond all limits in experimentation in racial matters. Questions about the accessibility of health research, about the widely expressed consent, about the transparency and legality of operations are also legitimate. Cacciari's philosophical approach today appears more urgent in raising not only questions but above all in stimulating regulations and policies at a national and international level, to appropriately govern the application of AI and the evolution of Human Genome Editing. Another question that has been asked in Val d'Orcia is that of the limits inherent in artificial intelligence, such as the absence of conscience, that abstract good, not marketable, in theory, with irreducible freedom, which makes every being unique, sacred, unrepeatable. In practice, Cacciari thunders with his impeccable phlegm, rigorous supervision and preliminary public participation are mandatory, which must be stimulated by a vigilant, distrustful, courageous, intelligent public opinion in short. Precisely to defend human intelligence, a heritage of humanity like the splendid Val d'Orcia that has welcomed us, a cultural and political revolution must be fueled, better if nourished by historical philosophy, in order to exalt the richness of scientific development in harmony with human intelligence, never an obedient servant.

Valentina Niccolai

www.librorcia.com
The colors of the Book in Bagno Vignoni, 6-9 September 2024