A Catholic History of Robotics

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This post comes after a long period of silence on this blog that I’m sure no one reads. I’m making this post to catalog some of the links that I’ve collected that detail the history of robotics and forward a view of history that I favor even if it involves mythical or ficticious elements because I like them. This blog after all is to highlight things that I like.

One of the saints that I considered making my confirmation saint was Albert Magnus because he represents the combination of scientific excellence, great piety, and a man of culture. It draws me to praise and exclaim how our God can raise such amazing people to serve Him. It is also a reminder that through God we can do amazing things. Remember it is a gift of God that Albert received and exercised for the glory of God (AMDG!).

I also really like this picture of St. Thomas Aquinas going to destroy the talking robot that St. Albert Magnus constructed to automatically provide answers to questions posed such as theological questions. It goes to show how in the amazing drama of salvation and life in Christ, two men can go about drawing men to Christ in their own unique way and find deep friendship and comradery in it. The master and pupil are brought together to make something beautiful for God (great book btw).

This website has an interesting history about how robotics goes further back than the Jetsons. Another website worth consider is Beachcombings Bizarre History Blog which shows how brazen heads and medieval robots are connected. The coverage about this is quite niche and tantalizes my Catholic pride. The last website shows a more holistic coverage of computing over time with reference to Bl. Raymond Lull who doesn’t get enough attention. Finally, a more academic read can be found here.