Imagine waking up in the morning and reaching instinctively for your smartphone. Before your feet touch the floor, you’ve already checked your messages, scrolled through news updates, and peeked at your calendar (I’m guilty of this also). This routine, now so embedded in daily life, underscores how technology shapes not only our actions but also our habits, desires, and even our moral compass. Social media beckons with its infinite scroll, algorithms anticipate our needs, and artificial intelligence promises to redefine what it means to be human. But amidst these wonders, a pressing question arises: How are these technological tools shaping our souls?
For Catholics, this question is far from banal or ancillary. If our ultimate purpose is union with God and pursuing the good, how can we ensure that technology aids rather than hinders this journey? The moral challenges of the digital age—addiction, disconnection, and ethical dilemmas concerning AI—demand more than surface-level responses. They require a robust framework to navigate the interplay between human dignity and technological progress. One such framework is that of virtue ethics, a moral philosophy that focuses on character and cultivation of habits that lead to human flourishing. Rooted in the thought of Aristotle and Christianized by thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas, virtue ethics offer a path for integrating technological progress with moral and spiritual growth. Yet, the Catholic tradition deepens this approach by grounding virtues in transcendence, orienting them toward divine grace, and reorienting human endeavors—including technological innovation—toward the common good.
What Are Virtues, and Why Do They Matter in Technology?
Virtues, in the Catholic tradition, are stable dispositions that incline us toward the good, grounded in reason and aligned with God’s will. Far from being mere rules to follow, virtues are the habits of a well-formed soul, enabling us to act in harmony with our deepest purpose. Rooted in the classical notion of eudaimonia—the fulfillment of our God-given nature—virtues guide us toward true flourishing, not only as individuals but also as members of a community oriented to the common good.
But why do virtues matter in the context of technology? To understand, we must first recognize how profoundly technology shapes our lives. Every swipe of a smartphone, every hour spent on social media, and every interaction mediated by artificial intelligence forms our habits, perceptions, and relationships. These tools are not morally neutral; they subtly influence what we value, how we think, and even who we become. For instance, constant exposure to algorithms designed to maximize attention can erode the virtues of temperance and prudence, drawing us into cycles of distraction and impulsivity. Similarly, social media’s emphasis on performative identity often undermines humility and charity, fostering a culture of comparison and division.
If our ultimate purpose is union with God and pursuing the good, how can we ensure that technology aids rather than hinders this journey?
In response to these challenges, philosopher Shannon Vallor has proposed the idea of “technomoral virtues,” a set of ethical habits tailored to navigating the moral complexities of technological life. These include virtues like honesty, humility, and empathy, adapted to contexts shaped by digital innovation. Vallor’s framework is an essential step in recognizing the ethical dimensions of technology. However, her grounding of virtues in a secular framework—focused on pragmatic outcomes and societal consensus—raises questions about their ultimate coherence. Without a transcendent foundation, can such virtues withstand the pressures of relativism or provide a truly universal moral compass?
This is where the Catholic understanding of virtues offers a more robust and tenable alternative. Grounded in the natural law and undergirded by divine revelation, Catholic virtues transcend the limitations of secular ethics by orienting human action toward God as the ultimate source of goodness and truth. They call us not merely to adapt to technological change but to transform it, ensuring that our use of technology serves the flourishing of both body and soul.
Virtues Without Transcendence: Insights and Gaps in Secular Philosophy
Secular philosophers like Shannon Vallor and Fabio Tollon have made significant contributions to understanding the moral challenges technology presents. Vallor, for example, emphasizes that technologies demand virtues such as honesty, patience, and courage in order to be used responsibly. She astutely observes how the habits and environments created by technology—such as the addictive pull of social media or the anonymity of online interactions—actively shape our moral character, for better or worse. Tollon extends this by addressing the relational dimension of technology, arguing that our interactions with technological systems affect not only our choices but also our deeper moral sensibilities.
These insights are invaluable, particularly in highlighting the moral stakes of our increasingly digital world. Technologies are not neutral; they amplify human tendencies, encouraging certain behaviors while discouraging others.1 To navigate this landscape ethically, Vallor and Tollon rightly argue that virtues are essential, as they equip us with the moral compass needed to steer technology toward human flourishing. Yet, despite their strengths, these secular frameworks leave critical questions unanswered. The first and most fundamental issue is the lack of ultimate grounding. Without a transcendent source of meaning and morality, virtues risk being reduced to tools of utility—pragmatic habits useful for managing technological risks rather than guides to eternal truth.2 Honesty, for example, may be valued in a specific technological context but discarded when it conflicts with personal or corporate interests. In such a framework, virtues can become malleable, shaped by cultural trends rather than anchored in objective reality.
A second gap is the inability to address relativism. Without an objective standard of truth and goodness, virtues can be co-opted for selfish or harmful ends. The courage to innovate, for instance, may lead to breakthroughs that serve the common good—or to technologies that exploit, manipulate, or harm. Patience, when untethered from a higher purpose, may devolve into passive complacency in the face of injustice. Relativism undermines the coherence of virtue ethics by leaving it vulnerable to the shifting sands of human preference and societal consensus. This is where a Catholic perspective offers a crucial critique. From a Catholic standpoint, virtues are not mere human constructs shaped by convenience or utility; they are rooted in the natural law, reflecting God’s eternal wisdom inscribed in creation. Moreover, virtues are not ends in themselves but means to a higher purpose: communion with God. This grounding ensures that virtues remain steadfast guides, oriented toward the true, the good, and the beautiful, regardless of cultural or technological shifts.
Grounding Virtues in Transcendence
The Catholic vision of virtue ethics stands apart in its profound grounding of virtues within a transcendent framework, aligning them with natural law, divine grace, and the ultimate good of union with God. Unlike secular approaches that struggle to anchor virtues in an objective moral foundation, the Catholic perspective draws on the richness of divine revelation and natural law to offer a cohesive and enduring moral framework. At the heart of Catholic virtue ethics lies natural law, understood as the reflection of God’s eternal law inscribed in human nature. Natural law is not an abstract concept but a dynamic participation in God’s wisdom, guiding human beings toward flourishing by discerning what is good and avoiding what is evil. In this context, virtues are stable dispositions that enable individuals to live in harmony with this law, aligning their actions with the Creator’s design.
Virtues orient us toward our ultimate good: union with God. This orientation transforms virtues from mere human habits into pathways to sanctity. For example, the virtue of justice in a Catholic framework is not limited to ensuring fairness in human interactions; it extends to rendering to God what is due, fostering a life of worship and obedience to divine truth (CCC 1810). Similarly, prudence goes beyond practical decision-making to discernment aligned with eternal wisdom (CCC 1839).
We are called to cultivate technomoral virtues that shape our interactions with technology and the habits it fosters.
Although virtues are essential, human effort alone is insufficient to attain their fullness. The Catholic tradition recognizes the transformative role of grace—God’s free gift of divine assistance (CCC 2021, 1839). Grace elevates natural virtues, enabling self-transcendence and the alignment of personal values with divine truth. Without grace, virtues remain limited by human frailty and are vulnerable to distortion by pride, fear, or self-interest.
Consider the virtue of humility, particularly relevant in the age of social media. Modern platforms often foster pride, encouraging self-promotion and the relentless pursuit of validation. Left to human effort alone, humility becomes a daunting challenge in such environments. However, with grace, humility is no longer a burden but a liberating virtue that allows individuals to see themselves truthfully—as beloved creatures dependent on God and called to serve others. Grace empowers us to resist the subtle pride embedded in technological habits, transforming social media into a tool for genuine connection and witness to the faith.
Central to the Catholic framework is a proper understanding of freedom. In a world that often equates freedom with license—the ability to do whatever one pleases—the Catholic tradition offers a counter-narrative: True freedom is the ability to choose the good. This freedom is not arbitrary but rooted in the recognition of objective truth, which directs human desires and actions toward their ultimate purpose (CCC 1731; cf. Gal. 5:13). Modern subjectivism, which detaches freedom from truth, leads to ethical chaos and moral relativism. For instance, technology-driven choices, such as using AI to manipulate public opinion or invade privacy, may be defended under the guise of “freedom.” However, without an objective moral standard, such actions undermine human dignity and the common good. Catholic virtue ethics restore freedom to its rightful place as the capacity to embrace truth and live in conformity with it.
By grounding virtues in natural law, sustaining them through grace, and anchoring freedom in truth, the Catholic framework provides a robust and transcendent response to technology’s ethical dilemmas. It not only equips individuals to navigate these challenges but also reorients technological progress toward its rightful end: the flourishing of the human person and the glory of God.
Toward a Future Worth Wanting
The Catholic tradition is anything but ill equipped to meet modern, high-tech challenges. As we confront the now unignorable moral challenges posed by technology, it becomes increasingly clear that a Catholic vision of virtue ethics offers the grounding we need to navigate this terrain. By rooting virtues in natural law, orienting them toward the ultimate good of union with God, and sustaining them through grace, the Catholic framework addresses the gaps left by secular approaches. It transforms the ethical discourse on technology, offering not merely a way to manage its risks but a path to integrate it into a life of flourishing and sanctification.
This vision is not merely theoretical; it demands action. As Catholics, we are called to cultivate technomoral virtues that shape our interactions with technology and the habits it fosters. But these virtues must always be rooted in faith, sustained by grace, and oriented toward the ultimate goal of eternal life. This means approaching technology not with fear or uncritical acceptance but with discernment. Discernment requires vigilance. We must reflect on how our use of technology aligns with our values and whether it contributes to our growth in virtue. Are our digital habits fostering patience, humility, and charity, or are they drawing us toward pride, distraction, and selfishness? Gratitude transforms our engagement with technology from a utilitarian pursuit to a spiritual exercise, reminding us that all good gifts ultimately come from God.
Above all, we must commit ourselves to the common good. Technology should never serve purely individual interests or exacerbate inequalities but should be directed toward the flourishing of all. This requires Catholics to voice justice and hope in the digital world, advocating for policies and practices that respect human dignity and reflect God’s love for creation.
1 Steven Umbrello, Technology Ethics: Responsible Innovation and Design Strategies (John Wiley & Sons, 2024), ch. 5.
2 David Baggett and Jerry Walls, The Moral Argument: A History (Oxford University Press, 2019); see also Edward Feser, Five Proofs of the Existence of God (Ignatius, 2017).