ARMAGEDDON POP

Homo informaticus

We live in the 21st century, an era of rapid political, social, and economic change. However, what particularly characterizes this era is the development of information, which has become the most valuable asset. The one who "possesses" it is the "Homo informaticus." Since the dawn of time, humans have tried to understand the world around them. Initially, they explained natural phenomena through deities and created religions; the next stage was philosophical thought, and the culmination of these efforts is the emergence and development of science. At the very pinnacle of science, we find the phenomenon of information, which allows us to interpret the reality we live in.

Thus, Homo sapiens in the 21st century has become Homo informaticus. What characterizes this modern being is the media-centric or virtual nature of life. Homo informaticus lives in three worlds simultaneously: the first is the natural world, the second is the world of culture, and the third is the virtual world (the world of information). From the perspective of the humanities, the informational human is an alienated, inauthentic, dehumanized, aimless, and absurd being. One could conclude that the age of technological triumph—namely the 21st century—marks the death of man. Is there still room for humanity in culture today? Or should machines, like those in science fiction films, replace humans? Is it possible to return to humanistic values in this era dominated by science and technology? Or are we heading toward the twilight of civilization?

It’s worth noting that modern humans are surpassing the boundaries of time, space, and even imagination. Perhaps we don't live in the world of Star Wars or The Matrix, but it’s probably just a matter of time. As we know, artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and will one day surpass humans in every way. Already now, humans stand no chance against machines in a game of chess, which says something.

Let us now turn to the key question: Who really is Homo informaticus? Is it the human of the future? Or is it merely a transitional stage between Homo sapiens and Homo deus? Whatever the answer, it is worth reflecting on the essence of modern humanity. Is it different from that of the 20th century? What level of consciousness does it possess? Is a more perfect and enlightened version of the modern human possible? Could Homo informaticus become Homo illuminatus (an enlightened human)? Standing on the brink of the threat of World War III and the collapse of civilization, are we capable of creating an enlightened human who would be able to save the world from ruin?

Ahead of us lies a long journey toward a new enlightenment. An enlightenment that would encompass the entire world. Globalization is a reality, as are the threats of totalitarianism, but so is the development of humanity—a possibility that could open the doors to the future. Are we capable of overcoming the boundaries of our atavisms, our superstitions, and our limitations? If we achieve a state of global enlightenment, we will disarm the world and make it happy. Doesn’t that sound like utopia? Maybe it does, but we must hold on to hope that a better future awaits us. Therefore, let us do good, for that is the only thing that will remain after us. Let us also remember that the foundation of a healthy society, as Erich Fromm wrote, is a healthy individual (both physically and mentally).

In conclusion: We are all Homo informaticus—information beings—which defines the essence of our times, as we are all dependent on technology and media. However, we must remember that the real world is just as important, if not more so, than the virtual world, because it is in the real (social) world that our lives unfold. There is no escape from technology, but neither is there an escape from reality. Thus, if we turn our backs on reality, it will turn its back on us, resulting in enslavement by the virtual world. Therefore, we must seek a golden mean—a balance between the worlds we live in. This is the challenge for the modern human—Homo informaticus.