Introduction to Network Philosophy: The Transformation of Human Existence in the Network Era

Author: Chang Jinfang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Network philosophy is an emerging philosophical discipline that provides a philosophical summary and reflection on the comprehensive transformation of contemporary human existence, which is based on information networks (including modes of survival, interaction, organization, and thinking, etc.). Its main research objects are the networkized relationships and activities among humans themselves, among humans with each other, between humans and nature, between humans and society, between humans and culture, and between humans and the world, with the network as a platform and mediator. The main research methods include linking theory with practice, unifying reality with logic, moving from abstraction to concreteness, integrating time and space comprehensively, and complementing multiple dimensions, combining rational analysis with value evaluation, systematic and structural methods, and social survey methods, etc. In terms of research objects and methods, it belongs to the broad field of humanics or cultural philosophy. The construction principles of network philosophy include openness, tolerance, innovation, intellectualism, mediation, humanism, and practicality. Network philosophy mainly includes three parts of content: conceptual theory and substantial theory, existential theory and essential theory, and cultural theory and value theory. The preface first analyzes the kinship between the network and philosophy, exploring the necessity and possibility of constructing network philosophy. Secondly, it establishes the construction principles, philosophical positioning, contemporary pursuits, and research methods of network philosophy, and briefly introduces the structure and content of network philosophy.
Part I is the foundation of network philosophy, studying network and related concepts, the subjects, objects, and mediating systems of the network. Part II is the core of network philosophy, studying the transformation of human existence in the network era. Part III is the extension of network philosophy, exploring philosophical issues related to network culture, network time and space, network values and norms, and the network in relation to human ideals.