The construction of Digital Reality: Intellectual Versus Social

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 668-682
Author(s):  
Vladimir I. Przhilenskiy
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
Social Construction Of Reality ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
The Social

The aim of this article is to compare two models of reality construction and their applicability to explain the various effects of the digitalization process. The evolution of the constructivist ideas about reality is reconstructed in the context of the dispute among realists and constructivists, which was one of the most significant events in the epistemology and philosophy of science of the 20th century. The author points out the differences between the intellectual and the social construction of reality, and carries out a comparative analysis of the philosophical theories and concepts describing the aforementioned alternatives. The intellectual construction of reality, which often takes place in theoretical physics at different stages of its development, is also analyzed. Particular consideration is given to the philosophic-scientific contexts generated by the sociology of knowledge, the theory of speech acts, and the actor-network theory. The article also shows a distinction between the construction and the constitution of reality. The constitution of reality within various types of non-theoretical (pre-theoretical, post-theoretical) thinking, fixed using the means and methods of phenomenological philosophy of science, allows identifying and describing the main contexts through which the word reality acquires significance and is endowed with meaning in the present-day intellectual and social practices. Special attention is paid to the concepts of virtual reality and digital reality. The features of the intellectual construction of virtual reality are described. The difference between the intellectual and the social construction of digital reality is substantiated as between two alternative practices, which determine the meaning, and the prospects of digitalization. This distinction may be of particular interest to those who design digital platforms and implement digitalization in various areas of human life and society, especially in as education, legal procedure, management, economics, and business. Today, when partly spontaneous, partly controlled digitalization is taking place in these spheres, the results of this study make it possible not only to understand the logic of the changes taking place but also to apply forecasting and planning methods actively, i.e., constructing the digital reality.

scholarly journals Dialektika Masyarakat Baduy dalam Memaknai Realitas Pemilihan Umum 2014

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-102
Author(s):  
Karman Karman
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
General Election ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation Process ◽  
Social Construction Of Reality ◽  
The Social ◽  
General Elections ◽  
Research Show

Baduy Community is very obedient to local rules/custom, e.g. lunang (sundanesse to express obedience to whoever the winner), and ngasuh rati, ngayak menak. Surprisingly, the voter number in Baduy have increased from 2013 to 2014. They have their own mechanism in determining leader, that is by deliberation among customary figures. The social-political changes make-up the result of their construction change toward reality. The issue in this study is how Baduy community (re-)construct general election. This one aims to understand Baduy’s  construction to electoral activities, their understanding to the obligation to participate in election, and the adaptation process of different realities (reality in Baduy and Reality in external). By harnessing the Social Construction of Reality introduced by Berger, and Social Adaptation System introduced by Giddens, this research show Baduy objectifies and participates in general elections as an obedience to the customary rules. Understanding about obligations to participate in election is legitimized by customary institution, regarding dualism of different structure, they must adapt theirselves to different realities.

scholarly journals Avatar Creation: The Social Construction of “Beauty” in Second Life

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailey L. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Research ◽  
Social Construction Of Reality ◽  
Still Images ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
The Social ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ideal Body

Rooted in the theory of Social Construction of Reality and informed by media portrayal of female beauty and virtual community research, this study examined how beauty is socially constructed by gatekeepers in Second Life. A content analysis of 360 still images of female avatars was conducted to understand the extent to the beauty types that appear in the virtual world. Findings suggest trendy and sex kitten/sensual beauty types were the most-portrayed beauty types. Most female avatars had the ideal body size and light colored skin. In addition, this study found a significant difference in beauty type among different types of products.

Social Construction of Technology

Entanglements ◽  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Tosoni ◽  
Trevor Pinch
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Social Construction Of Technology ◽  
Technological Artifacts ◽  
The Social ◽  
Relevant Social Groups ◽  
Scientific Facts ◽  
Nonhuman Agency ◽  
Interpretative Flexibility

The chapter focuses on the Social Construction of Technology approach (SCOT) by Trevor Pinch and Wiebe Bijker, introducing the reader to its initial formulation (1984), and to the subsequent extensions – and sometimes reformulations – elaborated in more than 30 year of empirical research. It first clarifies how the Empirical Programme of Relativism, elaborated by the Bath School to address the social construction of scientific facts, was adapted to technological artifacts. In particular the concepts of relevant social groups, interpretative flexibility, closure or stabilization are in-depth discussed. Regarding relevant social groups, the chapter dedicates a peculiar attention to users, sellers and testers, all understudied in the original formulation of SCOT. The chapter then clarifies SCOT’s take on materiality, and discusses its main differences with the idea of nonhuman agency proposed by Actor-Network Theory (ANT). Finally, it goes back to the Golem Trilogy to discuss with the author the specific take on politics implied by SCOT.

The Networked Effect of Children and Online Digital Technologies

2018 ◽  
pp. 7312-7326
Author(s):  
Teresa Sofia Pereira Dias de Castro ◽  
António Osório ◽  
Emma Bond
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Construction Of Technology ◽  
Social Shaping Of Technology ◽  
The Social ◽  
Contemporary Life ◽  
Social Shaping

Within the scope of how technology impacts on society three theoretical models: the social shaping of technology (SST), social construction of technology (SCOT) and the Actor-Network theory (ANT) are frameworks that help rethink the embeddedness of technology within society, once each is transformed and transformative of the other. More attention will be given to the ANT approach since it solves the technology/society dualisms unresolved by the previous proposals. This is a flexible epistemological possibility that can reach the ambiguity of contemporary life and the remarkable transformations brought by progress that have changed drastically childhood and children's contemporary lives.

11. Identities and US foreign policy

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Rowley ◽  
Jutta Weldes
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Constructivist Approach ◽  
State Identity ◽  
Social Construction Of Reality ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Constructivist Approach ◽  
Critical Social

This chapter examines the role of identity in constructing U.S. foreign policy. Using a critical social constructivist approach, it argues that particular conceptions of U.S. identity constitute U.S. interests, thus providing the foundations for foreign policy. After providing an overview of the influence of interests on foreign policy, the chapter considers the basic assumptions of critical social constructivism, taking into account the social construction of reality and the concepts of discourse and articulation. It then analyses discourses as sites of power, identity, and representation, along with the importance of identity in U.S. foreign policy. It also looks at U.S. presidents’ articulations of state identity and foreign policy over the last six decades.

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