CEIAI Governance Database
Back to the database
Record STMT-W500B2AAdvisory

Christian Anthropology-Based Contributions to the Ethics of Socially Assistive Robots in Care for Older Adults

CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY -BASED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ETHICS OF SOCIALLY ASSISTIVE ROBOTS IN CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS

Position paper Religious / canonicalGlobaladopted

This article identifies seven anthropological considerations grounded in biblical scriptures, Roman Catholic documents, and recent research literature to guide the ethics of socially assistive robots in aged care. It argues that ontological distinctions between humans and machines must inform ethical deliberations at individual, organizational, societal, and global levels. The authors aim to foster a global, inclusive dialogue on digitalization in aged care that places human dignity and relationality at the center of healthcare robotics.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Pontifical Academy for LifeReligious · VA
Lead issuer
Legal forceAdvisory
Under whose authorityReligious / canonical
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

Researchers and academicsAI developers and providersAI deployers and usersProfessional groupReligious community

This is for ethicists, researchers, developers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals interested in the ethical and anthropological dimensions of robotics in elder care.

Sectors
Healthcare · care for older adultsResearch and science · robotics and ethics research

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses the ethical implications of using socially assistive robots in aged care through the lens of Christian anthropology, examining ontological differences between humans and machines, and proposing a deliberative framework spanning individual, organizational, societal, and global levels.

What's missing

The text does not provide binding legal regulations, technical safety standards, or specific enforcement mechanisms for robotic deployment.

Key takeaways
  • Socially assistive robots in aged care provoke essential ethical reflections anchored in foundational understandings of human nature.
  • Seven Christian anthropological considerations highlight key ontological distinctions between human beings and machine artefacts.
  • Human beings are embodied, relational, and self-reflective entities whose experiences are fundamentally inaccessible to machines.
  • Ethical choices regarding socially assistive robots must be addressed across individual, organizational, societal, and global levels of responsibility.
  • Robots should support human caregiving and human-to-human relationships rather than replace human caregivers.
Principles it states
From creation by God to creation by humansHuman body, machine artefact, relationality, and the natural environmentSelf-reflection, intentionality, and moral discernmentAutonomy and responsibilityMulti-layered and mono-layered intelligenceThe metaphorical use of human experiencesThe inaccessibility of human experiences
Outline
· Abstract
· Introduction
· State of the Art
· Christian Anthropological Considerations
· A Deliberative Approach to the Ethics of SARs in Care for Older Adults
· Conclusions
IssuedNot recorded
Length8,079 words · 29 pages
FormatNot recorded
Scopeglobal

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Fairness

2/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

how the use of SARs relates to a social justice perspective, for example questions about accessibility

Ethical issues

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

2/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

All of this work is proposed to improve humans’ ability to understand, design, and control human‒machine relations.

STATE OF THE ART

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

2/5

Protection of personal data and private life

the impact that SARs can have on the autonomy and privacy of older adults and their caregivers

Ethical issues

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

0/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

0/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

Physical AI Governancecontext
robotics aged_care christian_anthropology ethics human_dignity