{
  "id": 4399027,
  "title": "OPINIÃO. Os limites éticos da AI – de Platão e Goethe a Sam Altman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/opiniao-os-limites-eticos-da-ai-de-platao-e-goethe-a-sam-altman",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-30T09:50:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Brazil Journal",
    "slug": "brazil-journal",
    "url": "https://braziljournal.com/opiniao-os-limites-eticos-da-ai-de-platao-e-goethe-a-sam-altman/"
  },
  "original_language": "pt",
  "account": "When machines surpass human intelligence, there will be no way to retreat. To enter this new era and establish its ethical limits, it is worth turning to ancient reflections. Throughout history, philosophers and thinkers have relied on the myth of Geryon to address this theme: ethical limits of means. In Plato's \"The Republic,\" this story is narrated. Geryon, a shepherd, serves the sovereign of Lydia. One day, a severe earthquake split the ground. While grazing his flock, Geryon discovered this hole and descended through it. To his surprise, he found buried a magnificent bronze horse. Inside, a naked dead man with a golden ring in his hand. Geryon placed the ring on his finger and returned to the surface. On that same day, later, he appeared at a meeting with other shepherds who also reported to the king of Lydia. Geryon realized that, when he rotated the ring on his finger, he became invisible. By spinning the ring again, he became visible once more. With this power, Geryon convinced his colleagues that, as a representative of the group, he could go to the king to make claims. Upon reaching the palace, using this fantastical tool, Geryon managed to seduce the queen and kill the king. Plato questions what difference there would be in using this ring by a just person versus an unjust one. He reflects on who would have the strength to resist the use of such power. If no one knew who did the wrong, because the ring guarantees invisibility, who would not do anything to achieve their desires? In Geryon's case, the means he used to achieve his goals are not justified. This fable serves as a warning about how power can transform people. Another commonly cited myth when considering the misuse of means is the story of Faust's pact with the devil. In the early 16th century, Georg Faust lived in what is now Germany. He left no written record, but gained fame as an alchemist and healer. He never settled in one city, often wandering through villages performing magical tricks and earning his keep through medical advice. He was frequently harassed by authorities, especially representatives of the Church, who viewed him with suspicion. He died in 1540. The world would have forgotten about this wanderer had it not been for the circulation, starting in 1587, of a popular book collection—the \"Volksbücher\"—of which the first edition was titled \"The History of Dr. Johann Fausten.\" The work was a hit. In it, the protagonist, Faust, invokes the devil to achieve his medical goals, sealing a pact with him for 24 years. He receives everything he wants from the devil during this period but must return his soul at the end. Signed the agreement, Faust accomplishes great feats. He visits world leaders and travels across Europe. He even encounters Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in history, with whom he has a son. As the deadline approaches, Faust experiences fear and remorse. At some point, lamenting his decision to bargain with the devil, Faust notes that he will die, both as a good and a bad Christian. Good because he repented, and bad because his pact will consume him. Goethe wrote his own version of Faust. He published the first part in 1808 and the second in 1832. For Goethe, the story begins with a bet between God and Mephistopheles, the devil, akin to the biblical account of Job. While God esteems humans as His extraordinary creation, the devil asserts that humans are all susceptible to corruption. God presents Faust as an example of righteousness. The devil then bets he can morally corrupt Faust. Goethe's character, Heinrich Faust, is an older, dedicated scholar with a background in philosophy, law, theology, and medicine. Despite his talent and dedication, Faust remains frustrated because he cannot grasp the great mysteries of humanity. Moreover, Faust lacks love, financial gain, or power. However, his primary desire is to acquire knowledge. Initially, Mephistopheles approaches Faust disguised as a dog—a subtle way to get closer. The devil offers Faust a pact: \"I promise to serve you here on earth, obeying your slightest command, if when we meet in the other world, you make the same promise.\" Basically, he promises to grant the wonders of worldly life in exchange for Faust's soul. Faust accepts the deal, and his first move is to rejuvenate himself, taking on a beautiful and attractive appearance. Fascinated by the young and innocent Marguerite—Gretchen in the original German—Faust seeks the help of Mephistopheles to seduce her. From there, a series of misfortunes unfold, like Marguerite's mother and brother dying. Marguerite herself becomes insane and gives birth to a child that Faust fathers. Faust feels remorse, tries to blame the devil for his misfortunes, but Mephistopheles notes that everything happened because of Faust's own choices. The devil merely served as an instrument. Artificial intelligence is the ring of Geryon. It is also Mephistopheles. It provides brutal power, devoid of moral constraints. Artificial intelligence allows for the achievement of goals that were once unimaginable. We quickly dominate images and information, all without much consideration. The discussion about the use of artificial intelligence is not about the advancement or sophistication of technology. It centers on humanity. The issue must fundamentally be founded on ethics. It is up to us, while we still command the machines, to ensure that the right choices are made, avoiding the misuse of this powerful instrument that can turn life into appearance and illusion. These are important decisions and reflections that must be made now, not later. Without this awareness, we risk becoming, in a terrifying future, slaves of computers, and when we complain about our servile condition, we will hear the same words that the devil told Faust: artificial intelligence was \"only\" an instrument.",
  "summary": "Quando a máquina se tornar mais inteligente que o homem, não haverá mais como retroceder. Para entrar nesta nova era, e estabelecer seus limites éticos, vale recorrer a reflexões antigas. Ao longo da história, filósofos e pensadores se valeram do mito de Giges para tratar exatamente desse tema: os limites éticos dos meios. Platão, em […] The post OPINIÃO. Os limites éticos da AI – de Platão e…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}