As the world stepped into 2019, it was already standing on the edge of rapid transformation. Advances in artificial intelligence research and the growing impact of automation in the workplace, the heated debates on digital privacy in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and the way social media was reshaping human interaction all pushed individuals to re-examine their own existence. In this post-truth era, access to information was easier than ever, yet distinguishing truth from falsehood had become increasingly difficult.
Amid this turbulence, philosophy regained relevance. Stoicism, in the face of digital noise, reminded us to find balance by accepting what lies beyond our control. Existentialism brought back the question of individual freedom in a world increasingly steered by algorithms. And digital ethics began to surface more visibly, with discussions on algorithmic bias and the responsibility of technology companies.
Even then, the future was swinging between the fear of uncertainty and the weight of responsibility. Humanity, growing ever more dependent on technology, had already begun the struggle to safeguard its freedom.
