In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, a new philosophical framework is emerging to guide humanity through the complexities of artificial intelligence, algorithmic governance, and immersive technologies. Published in the Journal of Engineering Science, a study led by Huansheng Ning from the School of Computer & Communication Engineering at the University of Science and Technology Beijing introduces Cybersophy as the “Fourth Principle/View,” a comprehensive guide for human cognition and value judgments in the digital age.
Traditional frameworks like worldview, life outlook, and values have historically steered humanity through agricultural and industrial eras. However, these frameworks are increasingly inadequate in addressing the unprecedented dilemmas posed by modern technologies. “The epistemic, ethical, and existential conditions of human life have been fundamentally reshaped by the accelerating transformation from industrial to digital civilization,” explains Ning. Cybersophy, derived from the fusion of “Cyber” (control, cyberspace) and “Sophia” (wisdom), aims to fill this gap by providing a systematic wisdom for interpreting existence in cyberspace and guiding behavior, identity, and normative commitments.
Cybersophy is situated within Ning’s broader intellectual trajectory, which includes previous research on Cybermatics, Cyber-Syndrome, Cyberology, Cyberlogic, Cyber-Philosophy, and Cyberism. These strands collectively provide the technical foundation, symptomatic awareness, disciplinary structuring, methodological critique, and axiological orientation that culminate in Cybersophy as a crystallization of wisdom and practice.
The study employs comparative philosophical analysis, conceptual genealogy, and interdisciplinary synthesis to situate Cybersophy in dialogue with related perspectives such as the information-, data-, and intelligence-view. This comparative framework reveals Cybersophy’s distinctive strength: its ability to encompass ontological, epistemological, ethical, and axiological dimensions of human–technology entanglement in a future-oriented, globally communicable manner.
The theoretical framework of Cybersophy is articulated through four interdependent dimensions: cognitive, ethical, existential, and value-oriented. The cognitive dimension reconceptualizes knowledge as a distributed, human–machine collaborative process, demanding critical digital literacy to counteract algorithmic manipulation and information cocoons. The ethical dimension emphasizes algorithmic justice, data rights, and “technology for good,” embedding transparency, fairness, and accountability into digital infrastructures. Existentially, Cybersophy reconsider what it means to be human in a hybrid virtual–physical reality, confronting challenges such as fragmented digital identity and the moral recognition of virtual harms. In terms of values, Cybersophy aligns itself with digital humanism, advocating for human dignity, balanced digital well-being, and inclusive governance structures.
Building upon these dimensions, the study constructs a multi-level research framework that translates abstract philosophy into empirical research agendas. Proposed directions include studying the influence of large language models on human creativity and decision-making, neurocognitive mechanisms for detecting deepfakes, algorithmic fairness across cultural contexts, data cooperatives as new ownership models, psychological interventions for virtual–real identity conflicts, and criteria for defining digital well-being.
The practical vision of Cybersophy is embodied in three engineering agendas: developing digital mental-state modulation technologies to address issues such as addiction and information overload, establishing ethical boundaries for human enhancement through brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and genetic editing, and constructing ethical frameworks for the Metaverse that ensure fairness, safety, and interoperability.
This research, published in the Journal of Engineering Science (工程科学学报), offers both a philosophical foundation and a methodological compass for embedding ethics, human dignity, and global responsibility within technological innovation. “Cybersophy calls for collaboration among philosophers, engineers, social scientists, and the broader public to guide the evolution of digital civilization toward a just, sustainable, and genuinely human-centered future,” Ning asserts.
As the digital age continues to unfold, Cybersophy provides a compelling framework for navigating the complexities of human-technology interaction. Its interdisciplinary approach and future-oriented perspective offer valuable insights for professionals in various sectors, including energy, where digital transformation is increasingly prevalent. By embedding ethical considerations and human dignity into technological innovation, Cybersophy paves the way for a more responsible and inclusive digital future.