Philosophy of Digital Man and Digital Society - 2024

Systematic Methodology for Analyzing the Interaction Between the Digital Individual and Digital Society

The Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of the Interaction between the Digital Individual and Digital Society in the Context of the Synergistic Paradigm

The systematic methodology governing the interaction between the digital individual and digital society constitutes an organized framework for managing complex systems, enabling the analysis of the components of governance as a unified whole and the sequential interconnection of these components. Within the systematic approach, any organization is regarded as a system, wherein each element possesses its own objectives.

The essence of the systematic approach to the interaction between the digital individual and digital society can be distilled into several key points: 1) the formation of goals and the elucidation of the hierarchy related to governance, particularly in decision-making; 2) the attainment of established goals with minimal resources through the analysis of alternative pathways and methods, as well as the execution of specific choices; 3) quantitative evaluation (quantification) of the objectives, methods, and means of achievement, founded on a comprehensive assessment of potential outcomes and the dichotomy between effective and ineffective management.

The systematic approach to the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is based on analyzing the complex object of the digital individual and digital society as a collection of interrelated elements. A system is defined as a collection of interacting components that form a cohesive entity, possessing new properties not found in the individual substructures of its elements.

The phenomenon of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society corresponds to three primary types of management: 1) socio-political (administrative management); 2) socio-economic (management within the production sphere); and 3) socio-cultural (management in the cultural domain), all of which facilitate a comprehensive examination of these phenomena.

Scholars such as V. Voronkova, V. Nikitenko, O. Kivlyuk, R. Oleksenko, and O. Punchenko employ systematic analysis and the systematic approach to analyze the interaction between the digital individual and digital society, positing that the methodology of systematic analysis, in contrast to the systematic approach, necessarily relies on mathematical tools and conclusions presented in a mathematical format. In contrast, the systematic approach is founded on broader, though not necessarily mathematical, methodologies, techniques, and categories. In other words, the systematic approach to the interaction between the digital individual and digital society emerges as a general methodology, while systematic analysis serves as an applied, highly quantifiable research method. The objective of systematic analysis regarding the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is to identify, based on mathematical or simulation methods, a quantitatively expressed optimal solution for this interaction.

Thus, systematic analysis of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is regarded as a methodology for clarifying and organizing, as well as structuring the problems inherent to both the digital individual and digital society, which can be aligned with or without the application of mathematics and computers. In this context, the term “systematic analysis” is equated with the concepts of “systematic approach” and “systematic research.”

Therefore, systematic analysis can be applied to resolve issues surrounding the interaction between the digital individual and digital society, proclaimed as a tool that provides a scientific basis for optimally achieving the highest effectiveness. At the core of the systematic approach lies the understanding of the objects of interaction between the digital individual and digital society as systems, which guide research toward unveiling the integrity of the object and the mechanisms that facilitate the identification of various types of connections within this complex object, ultimately consolidating them into a single unity.

The system of interaction between the digital individual and digital society, characterized as a complex interrelation of action elements and the interconnections between these actions, forms an integral component of the systematic approach. The notion of “action system” was first introduced by T. Parsons in 1937 in his work "The Structure of Social Action," alongside the concept of individual action. Parsons notes that the action system comprises a collection of individual actions and several types of relationships, as it is subject to a framework of “action coordination,” particularly in relation to the connections that emerge in systems of specific complexity, where individual actions are grouped into larger organizational units known as individuals and the relationships of individuals as members of social groups. The action coordination system presupposes distinctions in individual actions concerning goals, means for achieving them, conditions under which actions occur, and norms considered in selecting objectives and means. Primarily, the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is characterized by an inclination to view them as a complex system of constituent subsystems aimed at achieving digital progress and flourishing in times of extraordinary circumstances.

The subsystems of interaction between the digital individual and digital society include: 1) individuals; 2) formal structure; 3) informal structure; 4) informal organization; 5) statuses and roles; 6) physical environment.

The complexity of the structure of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is tied to the necessity of defining their interactions and subsystems as a complex social whole. The central methodological concept of the systematic approach to the digital individual and digital society encompasses: connectivity, compatible processes, and fundamental compatible processes. Among these, we should highlight: 1) communication; 2) equilibrium; 3) decision-making.

The systematic method of interaction between the digital individual and digital society entails the organization of a multitude of interrelated elements, forming a cohesive unity characterized by the proportional arrangement of parts in a defined interrelation and in a specific sequence of actions directed toward establishing a sustainable order.

The systematic method was elaborately developed in the 1950s and 1960s by T. Parsons and further refined by D. Easton. The essence of this method consists of analyzing a system as a holistic, complex organism, a self-regulating mechanism interacting with its environment through inputs (demands from citizens, their support or rejection) and outputs (management decisions and actions) of the system.

The most general characteristics of analyzing the interaction between the digital individual and digital society within the framework of the systematic method are: 1) wholeness: the properties of the whole cannot be reduced to the sum of the properties of its elements; 2) structuredness: the behavior of the system is determined not merely by the properties of its elements but by the properties of its structure; 3) interaction between the system and the environment: the system is formed and exhibits its properties through its interaction with the environment; 4) autonomy: the system exists and develops not only according to general laws but also its own; 5) adaptability: the system can adjust to changes in the external environment; 6) hierarchy: the interaction of system elements is presented in the form of a hierarchy of connections; 7) uniqueness of systems: the distinctiveness of certain properties observed in each complex system.

Systematic analysis and synthesis of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society play a significant role in analyzing management as a unified social organism. Systematic methodology serves as the most organized and refined foundation for managing complex interrelated activities, permitting the variation and analysis of constituent components and the sequential combination of these components. In a systematic approach, any individual, much like an organization, is a system, each element of which has specific functional objectives and a particular role within society.

The essence of the systematic approach to the interaction between the digital individual and digital society can be summarized as follows: 1) the formulation of goals and the clarification of their hierarchy; 2) the achievement of established objectives with minimal expenditure through comparative analysis of alternative pathways and methods for achieving goals and making corresponding choices; 3) quantitative assessment (quantification) of objectives, methods, and means of achievement based not on partial criteria, but on a comprehensive evaluation of all potential planned outcomes of activities.

The systematic analysis of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is perceived as a methodology for the organization or structuring of problems. The aim of systematic analysis is to assist decision-makers in selecting a course of action by systematically studying their actual goals (costs, effectiveness, risks). It aids in determining the rationality and capacity to inform decision-making regarding alternative means of achieving established objectives.

Given the inherent complexity of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society, understanding this relationship necessitates a comprehensive examination, with each component describing only a specific aspect of the system. Within the coordinates of our current context, the development of a unified, adequate model of interaction is unfeasible, as all forecasts regarding model implementation possess a probabilistic nature. Through a systematic approach, it becomes possible to clearly delineate the role of the interaction between the digital individual and digital society in societal development, its most vital functions, the conditions under which actions occur, and the rules considered in the selection of goals and means to overcome overarching civilizational challenges.

However, it can be said that the state of the digital individual and digital society amidst digital transformation is unsatisfactory, characterized by high turnover rates, a scarcity of professionals, the predominance of corruption and unemployment, and non-systemic reforms within society; the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many existing problems.

One analytical method for studying the interaction between the digital individual and digital society is the method of generalization, which represents a reflexive multi-operation. This allows for meta-transitions from the singular to the general, as well as the explication of the totality, which encompasses the architecture of detection technologies, and the mechanisms for their implementation in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Thus, the methodology of technologies governing the interaction between the digital individual and digital society aids in morphologizing terms, concepts, and judgments, verifying their comprehension and defining their meanings. This is achieved through the maxims of induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, transitions from the abstract to the concrete and vice versa, abstraction, identity, analogy, and synthesis. The methodology of this interaction reveals that these technologies give rise to a digital system of innovative space within the existing reality, uncovering clusters of objects within the digital society. Here, the technologies of the digital society are understood as a reflexive-mental generalization of its strategies.

Synthesis plays a decisive role as the integration of the components of interaction within the digital society, regarded as a singular, cohesive social organism. The scientific novelty of this research methodology lies in the analysis of new digital challenges and their structuring, alongside the digital provision for the development of modern technologies and technological processes. This, in turn, renders the interaction between the digital individual and digital society more comfortable, successful, and competitive, necessitating a more detailed investigation within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.