{"id":226,"date":"2026-07-14T14:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T12:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/?p=226"},"modified":"2026-07-14T14:55:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T12:55:32","slug":"digital-humanism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/digital-humanism\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Humanism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pangea supports and contributes to the Digital Humanism Initiative. What is Digital Humanism<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital humanism<\/strong> is an ethics for the Digital Age. As an interdisciplinary field of study in action, it investigates the complex interplay between digital technology<\/a> and humankind<\/a>, and strives to make digital technologies align with human values and dignity. It combines perspectives from philosophy<\/a>, computer science<\/a>, humanities<\/a>, law<\/a> and the social sciences<\/a>.[1]<\/sup><\/a>[2]<\/sup><\/a>[3]<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital humanism is inspired by the Enlightenment<\/a> and by classical humanism<\/a>[4]<\/sup><\/a>[5]<\/sup><\/a>. In line with these schools of thought, digital humanism regards the human being<\/a> as the measure of all things. It therefore defends and reaffirms this principle, seeing digital technology and innovation not as an autonomous or inevitable force, but as a sociotechnical<\/a> construct that can and must be shaped through ethical reflection, democratic deliberation, and collective societal action[7]<\/sup><\/a>[8]<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Humanism emerged in response to the accelerated digital transformation through the widespread adoption of digital platforms<\/a>, social media<\/a> and Artificial Intelligence<\/a>, and their impact on Society. As a field of study in action, digital humanism seeks, not only to understand digital transformation in Society, but also to guide it in a human-centric way, based on ethics<\/a> and social principles[9]<\/sup><\/a>[10]<\/sup><\/a>[11]<\/sup><\/a>. As a design and action framework digital humanism provides and promotes models for ethical and value-driven technology design[12]<\/sup><\/a>. It promotes alignment of technological development with human rights<\/a>, democracy<\/a> and human well-being<\/a>[13]<\/sup><\/a>[14]<\/sup><\/a>, while critically scrutinizing technocratic and purely market-driven approaches[15]<\/sup><\/a>[16]<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital humanism, as a normative framework, rejects both the mechanistic view that “human beings are machines” and the animistic view that “computers are like humans”[17]<\/sup><\/a>. It argues that digital systems should never be allowed to replace humans and their ethical judgement and responsibility in decision-making processes[18]<\/sup><\/a>. The field emphasizes human values, democracy, participation, inclusion, diversity and the protection of human rights and dignity<\/a> through a bottom-up approach[19]<\/sup><\/a>. Central concepts within Digital Humanism include human agency, autonomy<\/a>, responsibility, reason, and freedom<\/a>[20]<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian; Nuseibeh, Bashar; Prem, Erich; Stanger, Allison (2024). Introduction to Digital Humanism – A Textbook<\/em> (1st ed.). Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG<\/a>. pp. v\u2013x. doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>. ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45303-8<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Ludger Hagedorn, Ute Schmid, Susan Winter, Stefan Woltran (20 November 2025). Digital Humanism<\/em><\/a>. LNCS16319. Vol. 16319 (1st ed.). Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. pp. v\u2013vi. doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-032-11108-1<\/a>. ISBN<\/a> 978-3-032-11107-4<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Wyatt, Sally (2022), Werthner, Hannes; Prem, Erich; Lee, Edward A.; Ghezzi, Carlo (eds.), “Interdisciplinarity: Models and Values for Digital Humanism”<\/a>, Perspectives on Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 329\u2013334, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-030-86144-5_45<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-030-86144-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian; Staudacher, Klaus (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Philosophical Foundations of Digital Humanism”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 17\u201330, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_2<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45303-8<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Coeckelbergh, Mark (2024-03-01). “What is digital humanism? A conceptual analysis and an argument for a more critical and political digital (post)humanism”<\/a>. Journal of Responsible Technology<\/em>. 17<\/strong> 100073. doi<\/a>:10.1016\/j.jrt.2023.100073<\/a>. ISSN<\/a> 2666-6596<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian; Winter, Dorothea (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Humanism and Enlightenment”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism: A Textbook<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 3\u201316, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_1<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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  10. Werthner, Hannes (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Digital Transformation, Digital Humanism: What Needs to Be Done”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism: A Textbook<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 115\u2013132, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_8<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Inverardi, Paola (2022), Werthner, Hannes; Prem, Erich; Lee, Edward A.; Ghezzi, Carlo (eds.), “The Challenge of Human Dignity in the Era of Autonomous Systems”<\/a>, Perspectives on Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 25\u201329, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-030-86144-5_4<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-030-86144-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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  13. Metakides, George (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Democracy in the Digital Era”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism: A Textbook<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 495\u2013509, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_31<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Prem, Erich (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Approaches to Ethical AI”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism: A Textbook<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 225\u2013239, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_15<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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  16. D\u00edaz de la Cruz, Cristina; Fern\u00e1ndez Fern\u00e1ndez, Jos\u00e9 Luis; Villegas-Galaviz, Carolina (2025-10-01). “Model of ethical analysis of digital technologies: towards true digital humanism”<\/a>. AI & Society<\/em>. 40<\/strong> (7): 5743\u20135754. doi<\/a>:10.1007\/s00146-025-02330-w<\/a>. ISSN<\/a> 1435-5655<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian; Staudacher, Klaus (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Philosophical Foundations of Digital Humanism”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism: A Textbook<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 17\u201330, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_2<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45304-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-04-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. \u00d6sterle, Hubert (2022), Werthner, Hannes; Prem, Erich; Lee, Edward A.; Ghezzi, Carlo (eds.), “Ethics or Quality of Life?”<\/a>, Perspectives on Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 263\u2013269, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-030-86144-5_35<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-030-86144-5<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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  34. Neppel, Clara; Shaw, Patricia (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “Governance for Digital Humanism: The Role of Regulation, Standardization, and Certification”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 317\u2013338, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_21<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45303-8<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  35. M\u00fcller, Martin; Kettemann, Matthias C. (2024), Werthner, Hannes; Ghezzi, Carlo; Kramer, Jeff; Nida-R\u00fcmelin, Julian (eds.), “European Approaches to the Regulation of Digital Technologies”<\/a>, Introduction to Digital Humanism<\/em>, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 623\u2013637, doi<\/a>:10.1007\/978-3-031-45304-5_39<\/a>, ISBN<\/a> 978-3-031-45303-8<\/a>, retrieved 2026-05-14<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Pangea supports and contributes to the Digital Humanism Initiative. What is Digital Humanism? Digital humanism is an ethics for the Digital Age. As an interdisciplinary field of study in action, it investigates the complex interplay between digital technology and humankind, and strives to make digital technologies align with human values and dignity. It combines perspectives […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":231,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226\/revisions\/231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pangea.nl\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}