Carlos Peña, sociólogo y filósofo chileno: La democracia no puede ser solo “la regla de la mayoría”

Carlos Peña addresses the growing skepticism towards humanities, particularly in an era dominated by technological advancements. He emphasizes that disciplines like philosophy, literature, and history are crucial for fostering a reflective society, capable of self-awareness and critical thought.

Peña clarifies the role of humanities as the endeavor to understand the invisible meanings embedded within human culture. He explains that cultural artifacts, from buildings to commercial centers, carry symbolic weight beyond their material form. Humanities help us decipher these deeper meanings, which guide human action and understanding.

Peña identifies two main threats to the humanities. External threats include political figures who dismiss humanities as ideological and university administrations that prioritize efficiency and quantifiable output over deep reflection. Internal threats stem from within humanities themselves, where some scholars' radical reflexivity undermines the very concept of universal rationality, advocating for multiple rationalities based on cultural or ethnic identity.

A significant concern for Peña is the deterioration of reason and dialogue, which he links directly to the weakening of democracy. He distinguishes between genuine liberal democracy, which relies on deliberative dialogue, and authoritarian democracies, which prioritize the rule of the majority without valuing rational exchange, leading to the suppression of freedoms and opposition.

Peña traces the rise of authoritarian democracies to the unfulfilled promises of globalization and the resurgence of nationalism. He highlights how the idealized vision of a cosmopolitan world gave way to powerful nationalist regimes like Iraq, China, and Russia, which now support illiberal countries in Latin America, further eroding democratic values.

Peña argues against the contemporary overestimation of emotions, stating that an unchecked reliance on emotional responses leads to negative societal outcomes such as fanaticism, violence, and intolerance. He asserts that rationality and deliberate thought are the necessary antidotes to these destructive emotional impulses, cultivating a civilized life.

Peña emphasizes the crucial role of traditional media (radio, written press) in providing orientation amidst an overwhelming sea of information. He contends that while information is abundant, it often leads to disorientation, and media outlets are responsible for offering thoughtful analysis and criteria that help citizens navigate and make sense of the world.

He discusses the declining value of reading, especially in academia, where there's a belief that a text's meaning is derived solely from the interpreter, not the text itself. Peña contrasts the deep intellectual engagement required for reading a complex novel with the passive consumption of audiovisual content like TV series, arguing that reading fosters unique cognitive and imaginative skills.

Peña analyzes generative artificial intelligence, noting its ability to process vast amounts of information and create new content. However, he questions whether it constitutes genuine intelligence, emphasizing that human intelligence is defined by intentionality. Comparing AI to a monkey randomly typing a masterpiece, he concludes that AI lacks the intentionality that distinguishes human creation.

Peña concludes by discussing the historical tendency to greet new technologies with either extreme fear or unbridled enthusiasm. He sees AI as a powerful instrument that can lighten tasks but asserts that it cannot replace human decision-making, which involves conferring meaning and grappling with fundamental existential questions, a domain where human critical thought and philosophy remain irreplaceable.