From Frankenstein to Algorithms: Extending Biesta's Educational Domains Through a Romantic Lens for AI-Integrated Higher Education

Abstract

This paper argues that Romanticism in general and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) in particular offer a precise and relevant lens through which one can examine today's anxieties towards AI. Two centuries ago, before ChatGPT, Romantic thinkers were already warning that unchecked technological ambition could cause the erosion of human creativity, empathy, and moral judgment. On that, Shelley's novel, long read as a cautionary tale about creation without responsibility, speaks directly to today's debates about AI's role in education as an analogy that gives a clearer image of the challenges academics are facing today. Building on Biesta's three domains of education — qualification, socialization, and subjectification — this paper proposes a Romantic-Humanistic Pedagogical Framework that reframes each domain in light of AI integration. Rather than treating soft skills such as critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creativity, and interpersonal communication as secondary outcomes, this framework positions them as the very foundation of meaningful education in an AI-driven world. The paper closes with practical strategies for educators and academics who wish to embrace AI without letting go of the humanistic mission of higher education, led by the enduring lesson gleaned from Frankenstein: that what we create, we must also take responsibility for.