Paper short abstract:

Noah Harari characterized humanism as a modern religion. I will follow this thesis and examine the degree, in which humanism is being challenged by machines and “artificial intelligence”.

Paper long abstract:

Noah Harari characterized humanism as a modern religion. I will follow this thesis and examine the degree, in which humanism is being challenged by machines and “artificial intelligence”. There are several blows that shatter the basic concepts of humanism – in my metaphor the columns of the temple of humanism. I will identify seven columns and examine how far they are still holding up the ceiling, trying to get to a conclusion if we should sharpen our concepts or if it is time to move out of the temple.

The concepts are “intelligence”, “creativity”, “consciousness”, “communication”, “historicity”, “intentionality” and “subjectivity”. Coming from the arts (theatre), I will discuss the role of art in a time, where the concepts of humanism become fragile. How can art, how can theatre relate to this process? Should it strengthen the side of humanism as is the traditional role of theatre? Or has art already gone beyond that, as it often precedes the trends of society? What would a post-humanistic theatre look like?