Magdalena Szpunar

The concept of a filter bubble and new media hypernarcissism

Setting a demarcation line between narcissism, let’s call it endogenous, and culturally conditioned – let us call it exogenous, is extremely diffi cult. It seems that both internal predispositions and cultural determinants are equally important in this case. Although it is diffi cult to say what is primary and what is secondary, whether a narcissistic individual shapes a narcissistic culture, or narcissistic culture implies an increase in narcissistic behavior, one seems to be certain – the internet is particularly responsible for the intensifi cation of narcissistic personality traits, which indicates many authors. In this article, we will try to bend over the properties of new media, which in a special way may be responsible for the processes of shaping the culture, which I propose to defi ne as the culture of digital narcissism.

The culture of algorithms

The culture of algorithms in which we live is a culture based on reduction, simplification, and model-building. We are overwhelmed by the data fetish, with the imperative of computability and the quantifiability of the world. We do not wonder why, because the only thing that has a value is the thing that is or can be measurable. The reduction to the digit format becomes necessary in order to generate profits. This compulsion to calculate appropriates everything, even the spheres where   countability becomes not so much possible as irrational. In this way, a human being, who cannot be counted in many dimensions, becomes—as Foucault said—a “countable person” fitting perfectly

Quantification of Reality. On the Unbearable Imperative of Counting Everything

The goal of the article is to explore mechanisms related to the quantification and indexing of individuals. On the basis of literature analysis, the author puts forward the hypothesis that we are dealing with an increasingly visible quantified self, which becomes an important touchstone of the condition of postmodern culture. Indicating is understood as a vast process of exercising control, allowing the making of comparisons and evaluations, and consequently increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of individuals. The article also explains what the power of statistics in contemporary societies is, which becomes the emanation of power technology in Foucault’s approach. The author refers to the achievements of the trend referred to as datatization, which recognizes data as the only possible method which enables a knowing of social reality. Quantification intensifies the processes of depersonalization and reification, making dehumanization a social fact.

M. Sokołowski (red.), Dryfowanie przez czas. Społeczeństwo spektaklu 20 lat później, Olsztyn Wydawnictwo UWM, 2015, s. 176

The mediatisation of science. The role of scientists in the era of paleo- and neo-television

The changes in the mechanisms of mass media functioning led by television forced a transformation within the relations between the media and the science. The article addresses issues related to the change in the status and role of scientists in the era of mass media dominance.
 

Narcissistic Culture. Aboutthe Condition of Postmodern Man in a Culture Dominated by Narcissism

About the Significance of Uncertainty and Weak Thought

The main aim of the article is to present the concept of weak thought and uncertainty as categories that allow the acceptance of conscious ignorance. The author claims that these categories are an expression of the maturity of an individual who accepts his own ignorance, a state of limbo, or approving expectation. Referring to the publications in the field of psychology, philosophy, sociology and cultural studies, the author discusses the importance of the category of negative ability for everyday existence, meaning an understanding and accepting attitude towards emerging uncertainties, doubts and dilemmas. The author puts forward the thesis that achieving it releases us from the compulsive and immediate need to search for causes and make unambiguous decisions.

STR ESZCZENIE

Głównym celem artykułu jest przedstawienie koncepcji myśli słabej i niepewności jako kategorii pozwalających akceptować świadomą niewiedzę. Autorka stawia tezę, iż kategorie te stanowią wyraz dojrzałości jednostki, która akceptuje własną ignorancję, stan zawieszenia czy aprobujące oczekiwanie. Odwołując się do czasopiśmiennictwa z zakresu psychologii, filozofii, socjologii i kulturoznawstwa, autorka omawia ważność dla codziennej egzystencji kategorii zdolności negatywnej oznaczającej rozumiejącą i akceptującą postawę wobec pojawiających się niepewności, wątpliwości i rozterek. Autorka stawia tezę, iż jej osiągnięcie zwalnia nas z kompulsywnej i natychmiastowej potrzeby poszukiwania przyczyn i dokonywania jednoznacznych rozstrzygnięć.

From primary orality to secondary literacy in the era of the dominance of Internet bias

Scientists tend to overestimate writing as the primary form of language, while the oral communication is the primary form of the whole communication. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the crucial role of technologies such as writing in the thought processes and evolution of culture.

Abstrakt

Naukowcy mają tendencję do przeceniania pisma jako podstawowej formy języka, podczas gdy komunikacja ustna stanowi podstawową formę całej komunikacji. Celem artykułu jest zwrócenie uwagi na wpływ technologii, takich jak pismo na procesy myślowe i ewolucję kultury.

Pride in Science

This article is dedicated to the category of pride, which I treat much more widely than a trait of an individual. In my article, I try to determine how specific representations of pride in the scientific community are manifested, what they result from, but I also explain what types of pride can be distinguished in science and what consequences it has for the entire scholarship.

The article addresses the challenges with the views of Professor Tomasz Goban-Klas on the Internet and his role in the development of communication sciences in Poland. The article includes Goban-Klas´ views associated with the ontological status of the Internet, its specificity as compared to other media and the different models of use - thoughtless surfing and active sailing. The author argues that Professor entered the canon of the Polish media studies and certainly should be considered as one of the first initiators of the Polish communication science.

The text presents the fi gure of an extraordinary scholar, Ignacy S. Fiut. It shows him not only as a great scientist, but also a sensitive and good man, whose multifaceted personality is reflected in scientific works as well as poetry.

Naukowiec i poeta. Życiowe trajektorie Ignacego S. Fiuta

W artykule przedstawiono postać niezwykłego uczonego, Ignacego S. Fiuta. Pokazano go nie tylko jako świetnego naukowca, ale również wrażliwego i dobrego człowieka. Odzwierciedleniem jego niezwykłej osobowości jest zarówno jego praca naukowa, jak i twórczość artystyczna.