Paul C. Vitz, Ph.D – Analog and Digital Psychology and the Challenge of Transhumanism

February 16, 2023

Talk Description
Dr. Paul C. Vitz will address the nature of analog psychology and its capacity to represent more fully the human person, man and woman, and the family. An analog approach to human psychology is distinct from digital psychology, which denies human nature. While there is a contemporary triumph of digital psychology, there are many dangers and harms of digitalism, including its link to Gnostic teaching. Gnosticism and Transhumanism deny that there is meaning found in the body. They share the goal of ending the need for the human body, which would be replaced by technology and artificial intelligence. The challenge to Christianity, in particular, is based on the body-soul unity, which affirms the reality of human embodiment and ultimately of the significance of the Incarnation of Christ. The Christian teaching on the incarnation is assured through recognizing the special role of Our Lady. Her humanity provides the basis for Christ’s human and divine unity, which extends beyond the possibilities of new technology.

Biography
Dr. Vitz’s teaching and research is focused on the integration of Christian theology, especially Catholic anthropology, with psychology. This requires breaking from the modern secularism and postmodern relativism prevalent today. He is presently also addressing the following special topics: the psychology of hatred and forgiveness, the psychological importance of fathers and the relevance of psychology for understanding atheism and the psychology of the virtues. He is an editor, with two colleagues, of A Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person: Integration of Psychology and Mental Health Practice (2020). This book has been given an Expanded Reason Award, from the Benedict xvi Foundation, Rome and from the University Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain. He is also editor of a very recent book, 2021, CUA Press titled Complementarity in Women and Men: Philosophy, Theology, Art and Psychology. 
Some of Dr. Vitz’s other books are: Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, 2nd ed; Sigmund Freud’s Christian Unconscious; Modern Art and Modern Science: The Parallel Analysis of Vision; Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism, rev. ed.; and The Self: Beyond the Post-modern Crisis. He is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at New York University where he taught for many years prior to joining IPS/ DMU.

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