TELAAH ONTOLOGIS DALAM ILMU SOSIAL DALAM MASYARAKAT DIGITAL

Abstract

The examination of ontological aspects within the social sciences in connection with the digital society is a philosophical investigation that looks into the features of existence, reality, and the social entities that develop and change through digital evolution. The rapid evolution of technology has transformed the ways individuals engage, communicate, form identities, and view public spaces. These changes are not merely technical, but they also reshape the fundamental structures of society, prompting a reassessment of social beings, occurrences, and relationships among individuals. This study adopts ontological, epistemological, and axiological lenses to explore the deep impacts of digital media on the social, political, economic, cultural, and educational dimensions of life. By applying a methodology based on literature reviews, this research gathers and analyzes relevant scholarly articles, resulting in a comprehensive understanding of the ontological shift within the social sciences. Results indicate that digital technology is far from being a mere tool; it actively influences social reality. Its existence brings notable benefits such as easy access to information, improved productivity at work, and social innovation, while simultaneously presenting serious risks like polarization, data misuse, over-dependence, and changes in values. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a new interdisciplinary theoretical framework attuned to digital dynamics for the social sciences to remain relevant in comprehending and guiding societal transitions in this digital era.