Digital Transformation and Global Development

Decolonizing the Future

Location:
TU Wien, Vienna - Austria and online
Date:
March 26, 2025 @ TU Wien, Vienna - Austria and online

This is a Digital Humanism workshop series and self-standing module that will take place in Vienna in March-April-May 2025. Further announcements will follow. It is organized in the framework of Prof. Hans Akkermans have been appointed a Digital Humanism Senior Visiting Fellowship at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, and at TU Wien.

Abstract – Digital Humanism addresses the social, ethical and policy-making issues of the ongoing world-wide digital transformation. In this, it is and aims to be global. Digital Humanism’s cultural, ethical and philosophical roots are clearly (North)Western, as they directly refer to the (European) Renaissance Humanism and the (European/USA) Enlightenment. These are undeniably important and valuable traditions. But to be truly global, we have to consider and include other important human-centered traditions in the world. One example is African philosophy and ethics such as expressed in ubuntu, but there are many others. We are currently faced with an unHoly Alliance of BigTech companies and Governments in different countries that are trying to rule our digital future in quite authoritarian ways. As a response, we need to build a concept of global citizenship such that it democratizes digital technologies. To do so, we have to build on many different traditions in the world that can help make the world a better place.

Upcoming modules and workshop series, by Hans Akkermans, AKMC