Gaudet, Matthew - School of Engineering

Matthew J. Gaudet is Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Ethics Programs and Initiatives for the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University. He is also currently the Chair of the General Engineering Department

Gaudet's research lies at the intersection of moral theology and social science, with a particular interest in the ethical questions of technology, war and peace, disability, and the university. He has coauthored two books: Eight Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical and Theological Ethics (with Karen Lebacqz) and Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Anthropological Explorations (with the AI Research Group for the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education). He has also edited three special issues of the Journal of Moral Theology (on Artificial Intelligence, University Ethics, and Contingent Faculty) and is the series editor for the Theological Investigations of Artificial Intelligence book series.

Gaudet serves as a Faculty Scholar in the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and on the Board of the Society of Christian Ethics. He previously served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Moral Theology as well as an Founding Fellow at the Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and the Law at Duquesne University.

Education

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University;

MA in Theology, Loyola Marymount University;

Ph.D. in Ethics and Social Theory, Graduate Theological Union (an affiliate of UC Berkeley)

Awards

Distinguished Adjunct Teaching Award (University of San Francisco - 2015); Innovations in Teaching Award (University of San Francisco -2018)

Courses Taught

ENGR-16 - Values in Technology
ENGR-19 - Ethics in Technology

Publications

Books:

K. Lebacqz and M.J. Gaudet. Eight Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical and Theological Ethics. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2025)
M.J. Gaudet, N.Herzfeld, C. Labrecque, P. Scherz, and J.J Wales, et. al. Encountering AI: Ethical and Anthropological Explorations. AI Research Group for the Vatican Center for Digital Culture. (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Press, 2024).

Edited Volumes:

M.J. Gaudet and B.P Green, issue eds., Artificial Intelligence, themed issue of Journal of Moral Theology, vol. 11, special issue no. 1 (2022).
M.J. Gaudet and J.F. Keenan, S.J., issue eds., University Ethics, themed issue of Journal of Moral Theology, vol. 9, special issue no. 2 (2020).
M.J. Gaudet and J.F. Keenan, S.J., issue eds., Contingent Faculty, themed issue of Journal of Moral Theology, vol. 8, special issue no. 1 (2019).

Selected Articles:

M.J. Gaudet. “LAWS, Just War, and the Technocratic Paradigm” in Just War Theory and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Consequences. Maria Power and Maggi Savin-Baden, eds. (New York: Routledge, 2025) (Forthcoming)
M.J. Gaudet. “Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, Just Wars and the Culture of Encounter,” in The Promise and Peril of AI and IA: New Technology Meets Religion, Theology, and Ethics. Ted Peters, ed. (Adelaide, SA: ATF Press, 2023)
M.J. Gaudet. “Merit, Solidarity, and the Common Good: Recovering the University Community,” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, 43, no. 2 (2023).
B.P. Green, M.J. Gaudet, L. Checketts, B. Cutter, N. Herzfeld, C.A. Labreque, A.Ramelow, P. Scherz, M. Vega, A. Vicini, J.J. Wales. “Artificial Intelligence and Moral Theology: A Conversation,” Journal of Moral Theology, 11, special issue no. 1 (2022): 13-40.
M.J. Gaudet. “An Introduction to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” Journal of Moral Theology, 11, special issue no. 1 (2022): 1-12.
M.J. Gaudet. “The Two Types of Grades and Why They Matter to Ethics Instruction.” Teaching Ethics, 21, no. 2 (2021).
M.J. Gaudet. “University Ethics: The Status of the Field.” Journal of Moral Theology, 9, special issue no. 2 (2020): 1-23.
M.J. Gaudet and C.L.H. Traina. “Intersociety Survey on Contingency in the Religion Disciplines: Report to the Society of Christian Ethics and Cooperating Societies.” Society of Christian Ethics Task Force on Contingent Faculty (2020).
M.J. Gaudet. “Toward an Inclusive Faculty Community.” Journal of Moral Theology, 8, special issue no. 1 (2019): 141-159
M.J. Gaudet. “Reflections on the Contingent Workforce at Catholic Colleges,” in Catholic Identity in Context: Vision and Formation For the Common Good, Lane Center Series, volume 6, eds. Erin Brigham and Stephen Black (San Francisco: USF Press, 2018), 33-44.
M.J. Gaudet. “On ‘And Vulnerable’: Catholic Social Thought and the Social Issues of Cognitive Disability,” Journal of Moral Theology, 6, special issue no 2 (2017): 32-53.
M.J. Gaudet. “Increasing Engagement in Core Courses through Oral Exams.” Teaching Theology & Religion, 18, no. 1 (2015): 98.
M.J. Gaudet. and W.R. O’Neill, S.J. “Restoring Peace: Toward a Conversation Between the Just War and Reconciliation Traditions,” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, 31, no. 1 (2011): 37-55.