Digital transformation and humanitarian risks

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to consider digital transformation as a dialectically contradictory process that not only contributes to the growth of economic efficiency and facilitates the daily life of people, but also produces humanitarian risks. The article actualises a critical approach to digital civilisation as a stage of technocratic rationalisation of society, developed by the philosophers of the Frankfurt School and later developed by other left-wing authors. The article analyses typical ideas about digital transformation in scientific literature, shows some of the consequences of digitalisation, the impact of which on public life is underestimated. On the example of empirical data from a survey of Belarusian students, potential risks of digitalisation for the younger generation are revealed. The scientific significance of the study lies in demonstrating the technocratic basis of the current digital modernisation, which requires an in-depth scientific analysis of the contradictory relationships between the widespread use of digital innovations by young people and their level of awareness of risks in the field of humanitarian security.

Author Biography

Larissa G. Titarenko, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

doctor of science (sociology), full professor; professor at the department of sociology, faculty of philosophy and social sciences

References

  1. Schwab K. Chetvertaya promyshlennaya revolyutsiya [The fourth industrial revolution]. Moscow: Eksmo; 2016. 208 p. (Top Business Awards). Russian.
  2. Horkheimer M, Adorno T. Dialektik der Aufklaerung. Philosophische Fragmente. Frankfurt am Main: S. Fisher Verlag; 1969. 275 S. Russian edition: Horkheimer M, Adorno T. Dialektika Prosveshcheniya. Filosofskie fragmenty. Kuznetsov M, editor, translator. Moscow: Medium; 1997. 312 p. Co-published by the «Juventa».
  3. Fromm E. The Sane Society. New York: Rinehart & Company; 1955. 370 p. Russian edition: Fromm E. Zdorovoe obshchestvo. Banketova TV, translator. Moscow: АSТ; 2006. 544 p. (Khranitel’).
  4. Fromm E. Revolution of hope. Toward a humanized technology. New York: Harper and Row; 1968. 170 p. Russian edition: Fromm E. Revolyutsiya nadezhdy. Navstrechu gumanizirovannoi tekhnologii. Panfilova TV, translator. Moscow: АSТ; 2006. 288 p.
  5. Kutyrev VA, Nilogov AS. Pro et contra of the innovationism: for the preservation of the anthropomorphic realisation of possible worlds. Philosophy and Culture. 2014;2:180–189. Russian. DOI: 10.7256/1999-2793.2014.2.10515.
  6. Voronkova VH, Teslenko TV. Formation and development of digital technologies as a factor of realisation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Philosophy and Psychology. 2020;2:4–11. Russian
  7. Rubanau AV. Self-value of life or cult of means: value alternative. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Philosophy and Psychology. 2021;1:4–9. Russian
  8. Gere Ch. Digital Culture. London: Reaktion Books; 2002. 224 р.
  9. Bollmer G. Theorizing Digital Cultures. New York: SAGE; 2018. 264 p.
  10. Horkheimer M. Zatmenie razuma. K kritike instrumental’nogo razuma [Eclipse of reason. Toward the critique of instrumental reason]. Kuznetsov VY, editor; Yudin AA, translator. Mosсow: Canon+ ROOI «Rehabilitation»; 2011. 224 p. Russian.
  11. Bauman Z. Liquid Modernity. Cambridge: Polity; 240 p. Russian edition: Bauman Z. Tekuchaya sovremennost’. Asochakov YuV, editor; Komarov SA, translator. Saint Petersburg: Piter; 2008. 240 p.
  12. Ritzer G. The globalisation of nothing. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2004. 259 p.
  13. Lobanova NI, Logunova LV. Distance learning in a pandemic (on the example of the KSPU named after V. P. Astafiev). Alma Mater. 2021;5:40–44. Russian. DOI: 10.20339/AM.05-21.040.
  14. Ardashev RG. Transformation of consciousness of the youth in the era of virtuality. Alma Mater. 2021;5:31–34. Russian. DOI: 10.20339/AM.05-21.031.
  15. Florida R. The rise of the creative class: and how it’s transforming work, leisure, community and everyday life. New York: Basic Books; 2002. 404 p.
  16. Dabrarodni DG. Information activity of an individual as a condition of information openness of society. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Philosophy and Psychology. 2021;1:39–43. Russian.
  17. Allahverdiyeva LM, Gasparishvili AT. Digital socialisation of schoolchildren and its influence on development of humanitarian orientation of Russian education. Alma Mater. 2021;5:26–30. Russian. DOI: 10.20339/AM.05-21.026.
Published
2021-09-24
Keywords: digital transformation, dialectical contradictions of digitalisation, innovative development, student youth, humanitarian risks
How to Cite
Titarenko, L. G. (2021). Digital transformation and humanitarian risks. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Philosophy and Psychology, 3, 60-66. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/philosophy/article/view/4027