Digital Humanity in the Post-Modern Era: Attempts at Diagnosis and Prognosis from the Perspective of Christian Thought

Abstract

The development of digital civilization has become unstoppable. It is the signum temporis of post-modernity and an important issue in contemporary humanistic discourse. The main thesis of the article is the view that the word (logos)—foundation and material in traditional humanities will succumb to the pressure of the image and will keep its original meaning only in niches or enclaves. This is not a status quo which can be implemented in thinking—either scientific or colloquial— inspired by axiology and anthropology of Christian origin. An organic Christian cannot accept the primacy of the image and number (digit) over the word due to the sacred status of the word. The word expresses the existence of God, it is the beginning of His work and Himself. In Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox theologies one may find many arguments against specific “deification” of technology stimulating the development of the so called digital humanity. Certain representatives of personalistic philosophy, based on the Christian concept of man-person present a similarly skeptical attitude. From the humanistic perspective, the post-modern permission for the dependence of man on technological creations should be regarded as a mistake.