The End of Imagination: Tolkien’s Theory of Art and the Question of AI, by John Hartley

By John Hartley, Catholic Exchange, July 29, 2024

John Hartley is a schoolteacher and writer from Droitwich, UK. He holds a Masters in Catholic Theology and an Ecclesiastical Licence from Maryvale Institute, Birmingham.

In the debate about Artificial Intelligence, philosophers often ponder how much a machine can feel, play, or create, with the latter being distinct from mere generation. Tolkien’s theory of artistic creation is closely tied to the Imago Dei doctrine, viewing creativity as an inherently human trait. The doctrine of the Imago Dei, which holds that humans are made in the image and likeness of God, implies that human imagination mirrors God’s imagination. If God’s imagination is creative, and believers see God as a creator, then human imagination is also inherently creative. Bloom’s Taxonomy, a leading educational framework, considers re-creation as the highest form of education, making the ability to re-create fundamental to the artistic process.

Tolkien believed Pagan myths were a way for God to reveal fragments of His eternal truth through mythopoeia. Fantasy, for Tolkien, reflects human desires to experience wonder—a rational activity where humans use reason to reshape the world created by divine reason. Fantasy helps people recapture the wonder of childhood and provides a healthy response to a troubled world. …

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