FORMATION OF THE DIGITAL SUBJECT IN THE CONTEXT OF INFORMATION CIVILIZATION: ONTOLOGICAL AND AXIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT

This article examines the formation of the digital subject within the framework of the emerging information civilization. Digital technologies transform the ontological status of the human being, reshaping identity, agency, and value orientations. The study focuses on the ontological hybridization of subjectivity, algorithmic mediation of experience, and the fragmentation of selfhood in digital environments. Particular attention is given to axiological risks, including depersonalization, commodification of attention, and erosion of moral autonomy. The methodological basis of the research combines philosophical anthropology, phenomenology, and social philosophy. The author argues that the digital subject constitutes a hybrid formation positioned at the intersection of biological embodiment and informational representation. The article concludes that preserving humanistic value foundations requires the development of critical reflection, digital ethics, and responsible technological design.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В статье исследуется формирование цифрового субъекта в условиях складывающейся информационной цивилизации. Цифровые технологии трансформируют онтологический статус человека, изменяя идентичность, субъектность и ценностные ориентиры. Анализируются процессы гибридизации субъективности, алгоритмизация опыта и фрагментация «Я» в цифровой среде. Особое внимание уделяется аксиологическим рискам — деперсонификации, коммерциализации внимания и ослаблению моральной автономии. Методологическую основу составляют философская антропология, феноменология и социальная философия. Обосновывается тезис о том, что цифровой субъект является гибридным конструктом, находящимся на пересечении телесного и информационного измерений бытия. Сделан вывод о необходимости развития цифровой этики, критической рефлексии и ответственного технологического проектирования для сохранения гуманистических оснований культуры.

Keywords: digital subject; information civilization; ontology; axiology; identity; artificial intelligence; virtuality.

Ключевые слова: цифровой субъект; информационная цивилизация; онтология; аксиология; идентичность; искусственный интеллект; виртуальность.

Introduction

The emergence of information civilization signifies a qualitative shift in the historical development of humanity, comparable in scale to the industrial and scientific revolutions. Digital technologies no longer function merely as external instruments but rather as environments that structure communication, cognition, labor, and social interaction [1].Within this new sociotechnical reality, the human being increasingly appears as a digitally mediated subject, whose identity and self-understanding are shaped by continuous interaction with platforms, networks, and algorithmic systems.

The concept of the digital subject reflects the transformation of classical philosophical notions of subjectivity. Traditionally, the subject was conceived as an autonomous, self-determining agent grounded in rational consciousness. In contrast, the digital subject emerges within infrastructures that filter information, predict preferences, and subtly influence decision-making processes [3]. As a result, human agency becomes intertwined with machinic agency, producing what may be described as hybrid subjectivity.

This transformation is not limited to the sphere of communication or social practices; it touches the very ontological foundations of human existence. The boundaries between the private and the public, the real and the virtual, the authentic and the constructed become increasingly blurred [6].Digital traces, data profiles, and algorithmically curated representations acquire social significance comparable to embodied presence. Consequently, the question arises: what remains of the human subject when identity becomes distributed across digital environments?

At the same time, the digitalization of subjectivity entails profound axiological consequences. New forms of dependence, control, and commodification emerge alongside opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and global collaboration [8]. The digital subject is thus situated within a complex field of ethical tensions, where humanistic values coexist with instrumental rationality embedded in technological systems.

In this context, philosophical inquiry becomes especially urgent. It must clarify the ontological status of the digital subject, examine the risks of alienation and depersonalization, and articulate strategies for preserving autonomy, dignity, and moral responsibility in an increasingly technologized world. The present study contributes to this discussion by analyzing the ontological and axiological dimensions of digital subjectivity within the broader framework of information civilization [7].

Relevance of the research

The research is especially relevant due to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, platform ecosystems, and data-driven governance. These processes challenge fundamental categories of modern philosophy such as autonomy, freedom, and identity. The human being increasingly appears not only as an acting agent, but also as a data object represented through digital traces, profiles, and predictive models [4]. This shift calls for reflection on the ontological foundations of subjectivity and the axiological consequences of its transformation.

Research Aim

The aim of this article is to analyze the ontological nature and axiological risks of the digital subject within the framework of information civilization and to outline conceptual strategies for preserving humanistic values.

Methodology

The research methodology relies on:

• philosophical anthropology, examining the changing essence of human subjectivity
• phenomenology, revealing structures of lived digital experience
• social philosophy, situating the subject in technological power systems
• philosophy of technology, interpreting mediation processes [2].

An interdisciplinary approach allows for integrating existential, ethical, and sociotechnical perspectives.

Ontological transformation of the research

Digitalization leads to the emergence of hybrid subjectivity, combining physical embodiment with informational representation. Identity increasingly depends on networked interactions, algorithmic feeds, and mediated self-presentation [6]. The self becomes:

• distributed across platforms
• fragmented across roles and contexts
• co-produced with algorithms

The classical boundary between online and offline dissolves, producing a persistent digital presence [5]. Ontologically, the subject shifts:

• from unity → to multiplicity
• from autonomy → to technological co-dependence
• from interiority → to data exteriorization

This raises the question: is the digital subject still a sovereign human being, or a techno-social construct embedded in infrastructures?

Axiological Challenges and Ethical Tensions

The axiological structure of human life is undergoing transformation. Among key risks are:

• commodification of attention
• surveillance-driven behavior shaping
• erosion of privacy and authenticity
• delegation of decisions to algorithms

Moral responsibility becomes diffused across networks and systems [8]. At the same time, digital environments provide unprecedented opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and collective action. Thus, the digital subject exists within a field of value tension between emancipation and control.

Discussion: Toward Digital Humanism

To preserve human dignity and autonomy, it is necessary to develop digital humanism, grounded in ethical reflection, transparency of technologies, and education in critical digital literacy [3]. Philosophy must articulate principles ensuring that technological progress remains subordinated to human values, not vice versa.

Conclusion

The digital subject is a new anthropological formation produced by information civilization. Its ontological structure is hybrid and relational, while its axiological foundations are exposed to both enrichment and erosion. The preservation of human autonomy requires strengthening ethical responsibility, reflexivity, and democratic control over technological development. Future research should continue to develop conceptual models of responsible digital subjectivity.

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