The Social Dimension of the Internet: Philosophico-Methodological Analysis from Complexity

Abstract

The philosophico-methodological analysis of the social dimension of the Internet, seen from the complexity —structural and dynamic— requires considering several aspects. 1) The Internet —network of networks— is a complex, polyhedral system. A major component is the social dimension. 2) The philosophico-methodological configuration of the Internet —in a broad sense— is structurally triadic: scientific activity, technological undertaking and social reality. 3) The scientific perspective, seen from the social sciences, reflects the social dimension in the Internet sciences and possibilities related to the network. 4) The technological facet of the Internet —in the strict sense— uses different kinds of technologies. The social dimension concerns different companies, which have different repercussions for the users. 5) Three types of social activity are related to the Internet, connected with design, use and those derived from use. Their dynamics are permeated by historicity. 6) The social dimension of the Web from social networks shows three types of activity. They combine sociability with historicity. 7) Several types of methods are in the social dimension of the Web. They are diversified according to the relevance of the researcher’s presence in each method. 8) Social problems on the Web are of particular importance, as can be seen with cybersecurity.
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Author Biography

Wenceslao J. González

,
Universidad de A Coruña, España
Catedrático de Lógica y Filosofía de la Ciencia de la Universidad de A Coruña. Es Académico de número de la International Academy for Philosophy of Sciences/Académie International de Philosophie des Sciences y líder de equipo en el programa de la European Science Foundation titulado "The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective" (mayo de 2008-abril de 2013). Ha sido Vicedecano de la Facultad de Humanidades (2000-2002) y Presidente de la Comisión de Doctorado de la Universidad de A Coruña (2002-2004). González ha realizado trabajos de investigación en las Universidades de St. Andrews (Escocia), Münster (Alemania) y en la London School of Economics (Inglaterra). Ha sido Visiting Fellow en el Center for Philosophy of Science de la Universidad de Pittsburgh (Estados Unidos) y Visiting Scholar del Departamento de Filosofía de esa Universidad. En 1995 obtuvo el Premio de Investigación en Humanidades de Galicia. En 2009 recibió la "Máxima distinción a la trayectoria investigativa" de la Universidad Nacional Mayor San Marcos de Lima (Perú). Ha sido invitado a dar conferencias en las Universidades de Quebec (Montreal), Stanford, Pittsburgh, Helsinki y Nevada en Reno. Ha participado en Congresos organizados por las Universidades de Uppsala (Suecia), Nueva Gales del Sur (Sidney, Australia), Bolonia (Italia), Canterbury (Nueva Zelanda) y Pekín (China). Es el autor de La Teoría de la Referencia (1986), La predicción científica: Concepciones filosófico-metodológicas desde H. Reichenbach a N. Rescher (2010) y Philosophico-Methodological Analysis of Prediction and its Role in Economics (2015). Es el editor de 37 volúmenes sobre Filosofía y Metodología de la Ciencia, agrupados en la Colección Gallaecia: Estudios de Filosofía y Metodología de la Ciencia. Es co-editor de la Serie European Studies in the Philosophy of Science de la editorial Springer.
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