Though I didn’t disagree with the contents of this book, I also can’t say I learned anything. I think the value is the leader of the Catholic Church has written, through Papal decree, something that is worth writing.
The single biggest theme presented is the value of preserving human dignity. Couldn’t agree more.
Today, however, the main drivers of development are private, often trans-national, parties that are endowed with resources and the capacity to intervene that surpass those of many Governments. Technological power thus takes on an unprecedented, predominantly “private” aspect, which makes it even more challenging to discern, govern and direct such power toward the common good.
In the abstract, technology in and of itself is not a solution to humanity’s problems, just as it is not inherently evil. In practice, however, technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate and use it.
When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.