ETHICS OR IDEOLOGY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

Abstract

This paper presents a critical review of the book ¿Ética o ideología de la inteligencia artificial? El eclipse de la razón comunicativa en una sociedad tecnologizada [Ethics or Ideology of Artificial Intelligence? The Eclipse of Communicative Reason in a Technologized Society] (2024) by Spanish philosopher Adela Cortina. Taking as its point of departure the central question of whether contemporary discourse on artificial intelligence is grounded in ethical principles or in ideological assumptions about technological progress, the author develops a philosophical analysis of the relationship between technology, democracy, and human autonomy. Particular attention is paid to the concept of the “eclipse of communicative reason,” which Cortina draws from the tradition of deliberative democracy and Jürgen Habermas’s theory of communicative action. The book examines the growing influence of algorithmic systems on the public sphere, decision-making processes, and the shaping of social values, warning of the risk that technological rationality may displace dialogue, critical thinking, and democratic participation. The paper discusses Cortina’s key arguments, including her critique of technological determinism, transhumanist narratives, and the concentration of digital power in the hands of large corporations. The analysis shows that Cortina does not reject technological innovation but instead advocates an ethical framework that would enable artificial intelligence to develop in the service of human dignity, social justice, and the public good. The paper concludes that the book makes a significant contribution to contemporary philosophy of technology and to interdisciplinary research on the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence.