ART-AI Seminar & ART-AI Spotlight on Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Seminar
We are pleased to have Rev Dr Joseph R Laracy, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Systematic Theology at Seton Hall University, join us for this joint ART-AI Seminar and ART-AI Spotlight on Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Seminar. This will be taking place on the 23rd February 2026, 12.15pm-13.15pm (GMT) in room 1W 2.104. If you would like to join this seminar on Teams, please e-mail [email protected]
Abstract
Many current AI ethics frameworks struggle to move beyond procedural compliance because they lack a sufficiently robust account of the human person, agency, and responsibility. Drawing on Catholic Social Teaching as a classical, rational, and historically influential philosophical ethical framework, this presentation seeks to show how principles such as human dignity, subsidiarity, solidarity, and stewardship can clarify accountability and guide responsible AI design across concrete domains including agentic systems, data-center infrastructure, and education. By placing CST in dialogue with UNESCO, IEEE, and industry ethics frameworks, we propose a human-centered approach to AI governance that strengthens transparency and responsibility without reducing ethics to legal enforceability or box-ticking compliance.
Bio
Joseph R Laracy is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Systematic Theology at Seton Hall University, where he also serves as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Fr. Laracy’s recent interdisciplinary research focuses on the integration of systems theory, cybernetics, and ethics in the context of software engineering and artificial intelligence. He has contributed to the development of educational frameworks that address the ethical and systemic challenges of emerging technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from the University of Illinois, a Master of Science degree in engineering systems from MIT, and a Doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome
