ICT AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF BEING: PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE NEW REALITY

Abstract

Background. The rapid proliferation and total integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the twenty-first century have fundamentally altered the paradigm of human existence. This research addresses the profound ontological and anthropological rupture where the digital realm has transcended its instrumental function, evolving into a pervasive and autonomous ontological environment. The study aims to conceptualize the philosophical dimensions of this new reality, focusing on the transformation of being and human subjectivity. Methods. The research methodology is based on a complex combination of several modern philosophical approaches. Existential analytics plays a fundamental role in understanding the essence of technology as a specific mode of revealing being – Ge-stell. A powerful toolkit of postmodern philosophy is involved to conceptualize the space of hyperreality, third-order simulacra and the effects of implosion of meaning. Methods of philosophical anthropology and hermeneutics are also applied to analyze the transformation of intersubjective communications, the formation of the phenomenon of "second self" in the network environment. Results. The research demonstrates that ICT has become a total ontological environment that redefines metaphysical categories of space, time, and substance. A key finding is the identification of a radical shift in human self-identification: from classical collective and individual identities to fluid digital "singularities" that aggregate into reactive, ephemeral "swarms". The study highlights the emergence of "infopower," which operates through the algorithmic curation of attention and the monopolization of visibility. Anthropologically, the immersion in simulated relational spaces results in a "schizoid compromise," where subjects prefer predictable algorithmic interactions over the unpredictable nature of the authentic human Other, leading to the replacement of "I-Thou" relationships with "I-It" engagements. Conclusions. The total digitalization of human being leads to the destruction of traditional symbolic orders and the establishment of a post-truth era, where rational discourse is displaced by viral digital affects. This unprecedented anthropological challenge requires a critical philosophical defense of human subjectivity. The study concludes that preserving authentic dialogical existence and developing a new digital ethics are vital strategies against algorithmic reductionism. Future research should focus on establishing epistemological criteria capable of navigating the virtualized network to protect the authentic human spirit from being entirely absorbed by hyperreality.