The monthly interdisciplinary seminar "TOPICAL PROBLEMS OF GLOBAL STUDIES" was held on November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) at 18:00.
Topic: COGNTIVE SIENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL STUDIES
Speaker: Igor F. Kefili
Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Leading researcher of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (North-West Institute of Management of RANEPA), Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Professor of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Professor of The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Expert of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Member of Editorial Board of the journal « Vek globalizatsii [Age of Globalization] »
Main themes and theses:
Global studies, as an interdisciplinary field, is entering a new stage of development. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of knowledge from natural, social, and technical sciences to study the patterns of global processes. The concept of asphatronics serves as an illustrative example.
The lecturer identifies the following key global risks: disinformation, coupled with armed conflicts and economic crises. Societal polarization, fueled by the dissemination of false information and undermining social cohesion, is highlighted as a significant threat.
The digitalization of the early 21st century has become a revolution, defining a new era associated with the accumulation and processing of big data. It is asserted that 95% of big data remains unstructured and requires the development of new processing technologies for forecasting and managing social and economic processes.
Cognitive warfare, which has long been waged by Western countries, is aimed at influencing the conscious and subconscious mind. Its objective is to manipulate societies without direct involvement in armed conflict, as cognitive warfare integrates informational, psychological, and social technologies to destabilize society and create false beliefs.
In 2021, cognitive sciences received official status as a scientific specialty in Russia. Research is focused on the problems of cognitive security, which is crucial for countering the threats of cognitive warfare. One of the key themes has become the strengthening of cognitive security, which involves creating mechanisms to protect both the conscious and subconscious minds of citizens from disinformation and manipulative influence. Given the challenges of the current cognitive warfare environment, it is essential for the Russian Federation to formulate a strategy to counteract such threats, utilizing modern technologies, including big data analysis, artificial intelligence, and neural networks.
A significant role is assigned to educational initiatives aimed at training personnel capable of effectively working with cognitive technologies; the implementation of new educational programs that develop critical thinking and information literacy skills, as well as interdisciplinary research integrating philosophy, neuroscience, sociology, and linguistics. The necessity of preserving national values and cultural orientations, which can serve as a foundation for forming a stable identity in the context of global and external digital influence, is emphasized. A crucial task is the creation of conditions for the development of scientific potential, which, in turn, will strengthen the country's defense against external manipulative influence.
It is proposed to intensify efforts in the field of structuring and analyzing big data, not only to predict global and local threats but also to create effective mechanisms for managing them. Furthermore, the issue of the ethical application of technologies is addressed, necessitating the development of corresponding standards and norms, both at national and international levels. Russia can leverage its accumulated potential to participate in global discussions related to cognitive sciences, while maintaining its commitment to exclusively national interests.
Timecodes:
00:00-00:07 Introduction
00:08-02:14 Greeting and introduction of the speaker
02:15-48:38 Report by Igor. F. Kefeli
48:39-1:28:56 Questions to the speaker
1:28:57-1:44:37 Comments
1:44:38-1:47:35 Сlosing remarks
1. A new stage of global studies: Cognitive Security (4-19 minutes)
Global studies, as an interdisciplinary field, is expanding its horizons, integrating philosophical, methodological, and natural science perspectives. An introduction is given to the concept of asphatronics, the subject of which is global security, encompassing all spheres of human activity. In the context of asphatronics, the imperatives of global security extend beyond international relations and aspire to manage global risks in the conditions of the emerging sixth technological paradigm, the Industry 4.0 revolution, and the onset of a new geological epoch in Earth's history – the Anthropocene.
2. The Anthropocene and global risks (19-35 minutes)
Introducing the Anthropocene concept as a new geological epoch.
The primary trends of the Anthropocene: the impact of humanity on the entire technosphere, technological restructuring, and the increase in global risks stemming from this activity.
3. Artificial intelligence and big data (35-50 minutes)
Discussion of the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in the processing of big data.
The problem of structured and unstructured data (95% of data remains unprocessed).
The influence of the digital era on forecasting and managing global processes.
4. Cognitive warfare as a new security challenge (50 minutes – 1:16)
Cognitive warfare is defined as the exertion of influence on the human brain, aimed at manipulating consciousness and subconsciousness, and inducing informational-psychological exhaustion.
Data from the Global Risk Report 2024 are presented: disinformation and societal polarization are identified as key contemporary threats.
Discussion on the development of technologies related to cognitive security and the use of neurotechnologies for military purposes.
A key thesis – NATO and the West regard cognitive warfare as a new domain of military operations.
5. Ethics and philosophy of cognitive research (approximately 01:16 - 01:48)
The necessity of preserving ethical and cultural foundations during the development of cognitive technologies.
The problem of truth in the context of cognitive warfare: manipulation and disinformation as threats to rational knowledge.
Concluding statement: cognitive technologies possess both constructive and destructive potential.
The need to develop a concept of cognitive security at the level of the Russian Federation.
A call for interdisciplinary research and the integration of philosophy with technical sciences to address pressing issues in global studies.
More here:
https://www.globalistika.ru/seminar-po-globalistike
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN JANUARY 2025.
Topic: COGNTIVE SIENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL STUDIES
Speaker: Igor F. Kefili
Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Leading researcher of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (North-West Institute of Management of RANEPA), Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Professor of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Professor of The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Expert of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Member of Editorial Board of the journal « Vek globalizatsii [Age of Globalization] »
Main themes and theses:
Global studies, as an interdisciplinary field, is entering a new stage of development. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of knowledge from natural, social, and technical sciences to study the patterns of global processes. The concept of asphatronics serves as an illustrative example.
The lecturer identifies the following key global risks: disinformation, coupled with armed conflicts and economic crises. Societal polarization, fueled by the dissemination of false information and undermining social cohesion, is highlighted as a significant threat.
The digitalization of the early 21st century has become a revolution, defining a new era associated with the accumulation and processing of big data. It is asserted that 95% of big data remains unstructured and requires the development of new processing technologies for forecasting and managing social and economic processes.
Cognitive warfare, which has long been waged by Western countries, is aimed at influencing the conscious and subconscious mind. Its objective is to manipulate societies without direct involvement in armed conflict, as cognitive warfare integrates informational, psychological, and social technologies to destabilize society and create false beliefs.
In 2021, cognitive sciences received official status as a scientific specialty in Russia. Research is focused on the problems of cognitive security, which is crucial for countering the threats of cognitive warfare. One of the key themes has become the strengthening of cognitive security, which involves creating mechanisms to protect both the conscious and subconscious minds of citizens from disinformation and manipulative influence. Given the challenges of the current cognitive warfare environment, it is essential for the Russian Federation to formulate a strategy to counteract such threats, utilizing modern technologies, including big data analysis, artificial intelligence, and neural networks.
A significant role is assigned to educational initiatives aimed at training personnel capable of effectively working with cognitive technologies; the implementation of new educational programs that develop critical thinking and information literacy skills, as well as interdisciplinary research integrating philosophy, neuroscience, sociology, and linguistics. The necessity of preserving national values and cultural orientations, which can serve as a foundation for forming a stable identity in the context of global and external digital influence, is emphasized. A crucial task is the creation of conditions for the development of scientific potential, which, in turn, will strengthen the country's defense against external manipulative influence.
It is proposed to intensify efforts in the field of structuring and analyzing big data, not only to predict global and local threats but also to create effective mechanisms for managing them. Furthermore, the issue of the ethical application of technologies is addressed, necessitating the development of corresponding standards and norms, both at national and international levels. Russia can leverage its accumulated potential to participate in global discussions related to cognitive sciences, while maintaining its commitment to exclusively national interests.
Timecodes:
00:00-00:07 Introduction
00:08-02:14 Greeting and introduction of the speaker
02:15-48:38 Report by Igor. F. Kefeli
48:39-1:28:56 Questions to the speaker
1:28:57-1:44:37 Comments
1:44:38-1:47:35 Сlosing remarks
1. A new stage of global studies: Cognitive Security (4-19 minutes)
Global studies, as an interdisciplinary field, is expanding its horizons, integrating philosophical, methodological, and natural science perspectives. An introduction is given to the concept of asphatronics, the subject of which is global security, encompassing all spheres of human activity. In the context of asphatronics, the imperatives of global security extend beyond international relations and aspire to manage global risks in the conditions of the emerging sixth technological paradigm, the Industry 4.0 revolution, and the onset of a new geological epoch in Earth's history – the Anthropocene.
2. The Anthropocene and global risks (19-35 minutes)
Introducing the Anthropocene concept as a new geological epoch.
The primary trends of the Anthropocene: the impact of humanity on the entire technosphere, technological restructuring, and the increase in global risks stemming from this activity.
3. Artificial intelligence and big data (35-50 minutes)
Discussion of the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in the processing of big data.
The problem of structured and unstructured data (95% of data remains unprocessed).
The influence of the digital era on forecasting and managing global processes.
4. Cognitive warfare as a new security challenge (50 minutes – 1:16)
Cognitive warfare is defined as the exertion of influence on the human brain, aimed at manipulating consciousness and subconsciousness, and inducing informational-psychological exhaustion.
Data from the Global Risk Report 2024 are presented: disinformation and societal polarization are identified as key contemporary threats.
Discussion on the development of technologies related to cognitive security and the use of neurotechnologies for military purposes.
A key thesis – NATO and the West regard cognitive warfare as a new domain of military operations.
5. Ethics and philosophy of cognitive research (approximately 01:16 - 01:48)
The necessity of preserving ethical and cultural foundations during the development of cognitive technologies.
The problem of truth in the context of cognitive warfare: manipulation and disinformation as threats to rational knowledge.
Concluding statement: cognitive technologies possess both constructive and destructive potential.
The need to develop a concept of cognitive security at the level of the Russian Federation.
A call for interdisciplinary research and the integration of philosophy with technical sciences to address pressing issues in global studies.
More here:
https://www.globalistika.ru/seminar-po-globalistike
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN JANUARY 2025.