THE PRIMACY OF PHRONESIS: A FORMATIVE MODEL FOR ETHICAL GOVERNANCE

Abstract

The rapid transformations brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) highlight unprecedented dilemmas for moral philosophy and contemporary technological governance. This article examines three normative perspectives—deontology, utilitarianism, and Aristotelian virtue ethics—arguing that only the latter provides a consistent formative foundation, grounded in practical wisdom (phronesis) and in the cultivation of human moral character. It is maintained that rules and calculations should be subordinated to phronesis, enabling prudent judgment and ethical responsibility in the face of algorithmic complexity. Finally, an integrative model of principles, consequences, and virtues is proposed, aimed simultaneously at guiding the ethical governance of AI and fostering human flourishing.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence. Virtue ethics. Deontology. Utilitarianism. Phronesis.