Selfhood 2.0 : an exploration of the Buddhist concept of anattā in the age of social media

Abstract

The ubiquitous stream of digital innovations today offers unprecedented opportunities to create and convey multiple forms of self-identity. Within this ever-shifting landscape, individuals are inundated with messages inexorably linking technological advancements with self-branding. While modern innovations in digital communications have indeed been revolutionary, there is growing evidence to suggest that such progress does not come without human costs. As communication technology normalizes 24/7 hyper-connectivity, a “paradox of progress” is emerging as individuals experience a dramatic rise in social dislocation and isolation.

Much of the literature to date exploring the interface between self-identity and digital media has focused primarily on the psychological, cultural and social implications of technology, with little to no research addressing the spiritual repercussions of these new technologies. In an attempt to fill this research gap, this dissertation expands the current dialogue to include alternative ways for organizing and gaging how we attach to and define identity. In particular, this dissertation filters modern theoretical perspectives of self identity through the ancient Buddhist doctrine of anattā. In doing so, this research not only offers new pathways for expanding current readings of how individuals navigate the vast and fluctuating digital landscape, but also offers unique opportunities to empirically apply a number of Buddhist precepts central to the doctrine of anatt ā.