Technological Seduction and Self-Radicalization

Journal of the American Philosophical Association (3):298-322 (2018)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Many scholars agree that the Internet plays a pivotal role in self-radicalization, which can lead to behaviours ranging from lone-wolf terrorism to participation in white nationalist rallies to mundane bigotry and voting for extremist candidates. However, the mechanisms by which the Internet facilitates self-radicalization are disputed; some fault the individuals who end up self-radicalized, while others lay the blame on the technology itself. In this paper, we explore the role played by technological design decisions in online self-radicalization in its myriad guises, encompassing extreme as well as more mundane forms. We begin by characterizing the phenomenon of technological seduction. Next, we distinguish between top-down seduction and bottom-up seduction. We then situate both forms of technological seduction within the theoretical model of dynamical systems theory. We conclude by articulating strategies for combatting online self-radicalization.

Similar books and articles

Exploring the Theories of Radicalization.Asta Maskaliūnaitė - 2015 - International Studies. Interdisciplinary Political and Cultural Journal 17 (1):9-26.
Religion And Radicalization.Catalin Vasile Bobb - 2010 - Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 9 (26):259-263.
Raymond Geuss’ radicalization of realism in political theory.Janosch Prinz - 2016 - Philosophy and Social Criticism 42 (8):777-796.
The Seduction of Winston Smith.Mark Alfano - 2018 - In Ezio Di Nucci & Stefan Storrie (eds.), 1984 and philosophy, is resistance futile? Chicago: Open Court.
Kierkegaard, Seduction, and Existential Education.Herner Sæverot - 2011 - Studies in Philosophy and Education 30 (6):557-572.
Kierkegaard som lærer.Herner Sæverot - 2010 - Norsk Filosofisk Tidsskrift 45 (2):138-149.
The “Crisis of Pity” and the Radicalization of Solidarity: Toward Critical Pedagogies of Compassion.Michalinos Zembylas - 2013 - Educational Studies: A Jrnl of the American Educ. Studies Assoc 49 (6):504-521.
La sparizione del design. Parte II: Less is Less.Lorenzo Marras & Andrea Mecacci - 2014 - Aisthesis: Pratiche, Linguaggi E Saperi Dell’Estetico 7 (1):153-175.
Ignacio Ellacuría’s Philosophy of Historical Reality.C. Manuel Mejido - 2006 - Philosophy and Theology 18 (2):287-318.

Analytics

Added to PP
2018-07-08

Downloads
1,003 (#12,196)

6 months
162 (#15,686)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Marc Cheong
University of Melbourne
Mark Alfano
Macquarie University
J. Adam Carter
University of Glasgow

References found in this work

Thinking, Fast and Slow.Daniel Kahneman - 2011 - New York: New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Character as Moral Fiction.Mark Alfano - 2013 - New York: Cambridge University Press.

View all 26 references / Add more references