Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.)

First Reader

Dr. Marta Figlerowicz

Second Reader

Dr. Felicity Harley

Abstract

This thesis reflects on contemporary issues of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI), while also bringing into conversation 12th century Christian mystic and polymath Hildegard Von Bingen and 18th century Humanist philosopher Giambattista Vico. Hildegard’s and Vico’s contexts philosophically and historically share similarities to our present moment: reassessing our humanity and learning in times of technological, economic, and social shifts. Holding up their writing to various conversations about our contemporary world helps illuminate the present. Key aspects of the discussion include what constitutes tools or technologies, the agency we have in choosing to use or not to use them, and how we make those choices; how human achievements and creations have always been the result of human intelligence; the importance of mental discipline and control over one’s thinking in an attention economy; the social natures of learning and knowledge-creation; learning as and for self-knowledge; knowledge as creation, and creativity as an exercise in judgment and decision-making.

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