Advancing AI, Virtue Enhancement, and the Need for Niebuhrian Virtues of Moral Vigilance

This paper considers the possibility of AI being employed to improve moral character from the perspective of an account of virtues that is psychologically realistic and informed by a Christian agapeic ethic oriented toward creaturely well-being goods that ground right action. While Part I briefly presents such an account of the virtues, Part II explores three ways that advancing AI may impact virtue formation, each of which is conceivable but has significant limitations and drawbacks. Part III argues that recognizing the social character of virtue formation requires recognizing the importance of extending the rule of law to AI. The effectiveness of rule of law in the face of advancing AI, however, will depend on Niebuhrian virtues of moral vigilance that recognize the ease with which the loftily stated ideals sometimes associated with AI coexist with other aims.