Homo Viator or Algorithmus Viator?
Berenika Seryczyńska, Tomasz Duda
Scientia et Fides April 16, 2026 DOI: 10.12775/setf.2026.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Keywords | Pilgrimage Transformative learning Asceticism Embodied cognition Spirituality Metaphysics Reincarnation Phronesis Perspective graphical Epistemology Holism Argumentation theory Religious experience Transformational leadership Raising metalworking Aesthetics Relevance law Focus optics |
| Key points | Argues that AI cannot participate in pilgrimage spiritually, that removing hardship diminishes pilgrimage's transformative potential, and that cyberpilgrimage is not a legitimate alternative to physical pilgrimage. |
Abstract
Debates on AI primarily focus on its moral implications and capacity to simulate religious experiences. However, an analysis of pilgrimage offers a unique perspective on broader transformations in religious practice, ranging from traditional spiritual journeys to modern, technology-assisted routes organized by travel agencies. Equipped with technological conveniences, emphasize efficiency and participant satisfaction, raising theological questions about the essence of pilgrimage itself. Used thomistic structure of argumentation (objections, counterarguments, and response) to examine three key issues: (1) whether AI can participate in a pilgrimage in a spiritual sense, (2) whether technological elimination of hardship diminishes the transformative potential of pilgrimage, and (3) whether cyberpilgrimage constitutes a legitimate alternative to physical pilgrimage. Drawing on classical metaphysics and contemporary AI research, the study argues that AI, lacking a rational soul, free will, and an intrinsic orientation toward transcendence, cannot be considered homo viator. Furthermore, the removal of physical hardship may undermine the ascetic and transformative dimensions of pilgrimage. The analysis of cyberpilgrimage suggests that, while psychologically engaging, virtual experiences do not replace the sacramental and embodied nature of spiritual journeys. This study contributes to the discourse on spirituality in the digital age, proposing a balanced approach that reconciles tradition with technological advancements while reaffirming the relevance of Thomistic anthropology in addressing contemporary challenges.