subsidiarity
/ˌsʌbsɪdiˈærɪti/
Definition
The principle that matters should be handled by the smallest, lowest, or least centralized competent authority, ensuring individuals and local communities maintain agency.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'subsidium,' meaning 'help,' 'aid,' or 'reserve force.' It entered modern discourse through 19th-century social theory to describe the relationship between higher-level organizations and individuals.
In the news
In the article, the author lists subsidiarity as a foundational principle of Catholic social teaching that must guide the development and regulation of AI to ensure the participation of all people. It serves as a check against the over-centralization of technology in the hands of a few powerful corporations.
Key issue of AI is not use of technology as such, but the vision that underlies it
Read the full article ↗National Catholic Reporter