Humanism and Enlightenment

Abstract

AbstractSome authors argue that digital transformation is a form of “counter-Enlightenment.” And indeed, there is a tendency of transhumanist and anti-humanist thought in present-day debates around digitalization. Software systems are described as if they were persons endowed with mental states and moral or immoral attitudes. For some, the values of humanism and Enlightenment that framed human rights and democratic constitutions have become obsolete. In fact, humans are delegating responsibility to artificial intelligence and digital tools. Simultaneously, digitalization can lead to a greater emphasis on humans as rational beings and grant them greater freedom for personal development. Therefore, the question “What is the relevance of humanism and Enlightenment in the era of digital transformation?” arises and more basically “What are the constitutive elements of humanism and Enlightenment and are they still relevant, or do they even gain importance in digital transformation processes?”. These and other questions will be addressed in this chapter.