(This Preface and introduction to the book was forwarded by Mirza Ashraf Sahib. Reading these pages provokes further curiosity to know more especially how identity problem is perceived by different age groups. What seems to be schizophrenic characteristic to our older generation may be normal for my two year old grandson who already knows many technological gadgets. Should we be defining for them what an identity should be? Will they even care what we have to say? This book is available at Amazon. F. Sheikh)
PREFACE: Mirza Iqbal Ashraf
WE ARE OFTEN REMINDED, if we are to deal with new challenges of our era we define as modern age, how important it is to understand the intellectualism of our contemporary period and society! We are aware, no matter what happened in the past hour is history, we live every minute, every hour in the present, in the ‘modern age’ and with the modern calendar. At this point, the account of our existence and identity with an accepted modern technology defining time to an accuracy of nanoseconds, it is vital for our success to manipulate the analysis of all the variables of time and space, find reality of human identity in the consensus of manageable ideas of knowledgeable intellectuals and thus, comprehend the nature of human existence.
Despite our technological progress and appearance of artificial intelligence, we still reflect our religious traditions and philosophical cognitions, our political order and economic systems, our social structure and cultural heritage by the cognitive power of our minds. Since we know that the mind of a time is a joint output of the leading minds of that time in the form of their ideas, discoveries, experiences, scientific, and philosophical reflections, Professor Dr. Hulya Yaldir, with her fingers on the pulse of modern time, invited some contemporary intellectuals to cognize and present an insightful observation of human existence and identity in modern age. In this endeavour, I am humbled to have joined with the learned Professor to co-edit the book Human Existence and Identity in Modern Age: A Socio-philosophical Reflection, which, I believe, is a timely sweeping exposition of understanding the modern age; an age in which—caught in the lure of digital attraction—we are plugged in, getting our brains bombarded every second by text messages, emails, twitter, Facebook and unlimited information.
Today, we are living in a ‘scientific civilization’. We mostly talk about scientific progress, and talk little of philosophy. Thus, in our modern age, every information, even our philosophical cognition we transmit all over the globe online, proliferate in artificial intelligence, we proceed as if science and philosophy are separate fields of knowledge. But well-articulated subjects offered in our book will be helpful to the readers in understanding that every chapter written by a scholarly author is in itself an insightful vehicle of both philosophical and scientific knowledge, transporting great ideas from mind to mind: IDEAS THAT ARE DRIVERS OF CHANGE. (October 14, 2018)
INTRODUCTION: Hülya Yaldır
Each era brings with it a paradigm shift, that changes dramatically the prevailing world-view. The postmodern era is no exception. In this era, as Jean-François Lyotard famously argues, the universal and absolutist meta-narratives of modernity have been replaced with the small narratives that foster plurality, diversity and relativity. Put it differently, whereas the modernity is characterized by its quest for certainty, universality, and unity, postmodernity stands for subjectivity, relativity and diversity. Owing to these defining features of postmodernity, the age-old problem of identity presents itself with a new vigour and a greater difficulty. The postmodern self is no longer unified and permanent as it was in the modern era, but rather constantly changing and composed of many selves.
Situated in a world of small narratives, people form their identities relative to them. That is, people gain a sense of identity based upon their place within the world of narratives. All identities-national, ethnic, religious, class, gender, etc., have been created in accordance with these narratives. From the moment they are born, people are exposed to a set of narratives dictating their identity, their ethnic, religious affiliation, their gender roles, and start perceiving the outside world and themselves accordingly. Being surrounded by these narratives, people find a space where they can construe their own narrative and feel a sense of belonging. As new narratives are continuously being added to the narrative set, identities are reformed and reshaped.
In the twenty-first century, the world of the narratives has gone through enormous changes. The digital revolution being witnessed in this century, has shattered the existing narratives and set the stage for new ones. The technological advances and the development of communication have significantly transformed people’s lives and the way they define themselves. This is achieved through what the social theorist David Harvey calls ‘time-space compression’ or the diminution of the spatial and time barriers. This is especially evident in the internet wherein a cyberspace (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) has been created. This space enables people all over the world to communicate with each other at any time. So, social space has been reduced to ‘a virtual common space’. This opens the door for the transformation of our individual, social, political and moral identities. But, unfortunately, this transformation is not always a positive one. For the internet and social media platforms offer people an opportunity to create a world of illusion and fantasy. In these platforms, people can portray themselves as they want by changing their personal information like age, physical appearance, job, etc. Put differently, people can use these spaces to build ‘virtual selves’ whom they want to be (e.g. beautiful, blonde, intellectual, etc.) without making any effort. This is the reality of today’s digital world and it echoes what Jean Baudrillard calls ‘hyperreality’ or ‘simulation’. Living in a world of hyperreality or simulation, people have become more alone and more alienated to themselves than ever. For their real selves have been superseded by their virtual selves. Owing to this fact, people of digital age exhibit a schizophrenic character, suffering from an identity crisis and existential anxiety. This existential anxiety is fuelled by the capitalist consumption madness, tempting people to overcome their existential crisis by means of consuming and expressing themselves with the products they buy. The digital age has given rise to existential fear, identity crises and depression. This in turn has led people to question their identities with the world surrounding them and figure out their true selves. So, people need to flee from the world of simulation or hyperreality and find their true selves.
Does the erosion of meta-narratives (Kantian universal moral law, Marxist understanding of history, etc.) lead to the destruction of selves? Or does it bring about a new kind of identity? How will people re-define themselves as ontological, political and ethical beings in today’s world? These and suchlike questions is the main focus of this book. The book will address the question of human existence and identity in the modern mega-tech age through interdisciplinary, in particular philosophical and sociological reflections. This interdisciplinary edited collection, Human Existence and Identity in Modern Age: A Socio-philosophical Reflection, is a comprehensive and extensive effort by the editors, and the contributors focuses on a multitude of challenges regarding human existence and identity, which calls for an immediate solution in today’s world. The main task of this book is to increase awareness of the public, particularly university students, who are interested in arising human existence and identity problems in modern world through the viewpoint of the intellectuals who cherish different cultural experiences, and to offer valuable suggestions for solution. This study particularly intends to encourage young intellectuals across the world to become more conscious on the personal identity and survival of Homo sapiens, along with others, by creating a better and more peaceful world. The role of the Humanities and Social Sciences in enriching society and human condition should thus never be underestimated.
