Sergio Amadeu da Silveira - Cidadania e Redes Digitais

eng
Citizenship expansion and digital networks
c i t i z e n s h i p a n d d i g i t a l n e t w o r k s
It is not usual to have the opportunity of discussing a classical problem of
political philosophy, such as the concept of citizenship, related to such a current
phenomenon — and apparently of purely technological nature — such
as digital networks. We are used to understanding technology as an instrumental
dimension of human reality. From this point of view, technologies are
elements of mediation with reality. They increase the reach of our action possibilities,
multiply their impact on nature. Definitely, all that is related to the technical
sphere supposes, to a great extent, implementing control forms and ensuring a
greater degree of fulfillment of some goals, whether individual or collective, cultural
or economic, military or productive. Therefore, we talk about an apparently instrumental
and neutral technology, since the goals and ideals that it serves are defined
by the sphere of ethics and politics. Definitely, the instrumental view of technology
leads us to think that any kind of political constitution, any kind of citizenship, is
compatible with any technological system; that democracy is not related to certain
strategic decisions concerned to the energetic, communicational and productive systems
characterizing our society.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The human phenomenon cannot be
understood out of its dialogue with technology. Nothing is transforming human
reality as much as technology in all its facets. The concepts of natural and artificial
superimpose and complete themselves continually. Many still desire to maintain
certain mythologies based on the existence of a supposed natural order on which
social order would be based. “That which corresponds to us by nature, and that
which by nature remains out of our rights, out of what we may claim.” Back in
classic Greece, Plato created in his dialogue The Republic the expression “noble lie,”
which refers to social castes. According to this myth, all men are born from Earth
which is their mother and wet nurse, since we are human, but there is, in each one’s
nature, a different composition of metals. If you have gold in your composition, you
belong to the class of the guardians and governors of the polis. If you are comprised
of silver, you will be an auxiliary. If you are of bronze or iron, you will be a worker
and artisan. It is not impossible, according to Plato, for a bronze man to generate a
gold son or vice versa, but education must be oriented to make everyone conscious
of the social position they belong to. Definitely, the virtuous society shall be that
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