Digital Asceticism: Philosophy Is Back to School

Abstract

The article presents the problem of finding a balance between offline and online life in the context of digitalization. The study reports the quantitative results of a pedagogical experiment conducted to test the methodology of digital asceticism. The experiment involved 9th grade students of a secondary school in Chelyabinsk, Russia. In the study we used the textbook designed in the form of a philosophical diary. The diary “Digital Ascetics” is based on the methods of philosophical practice, which include an appeal to the principles of Stoicism, philosophical reflection and keeping a handwritten diary. The journal consists of sections relevant to today's situation: digital footprint, cyberbullying, critical thinking, self-care. The daily tasks are freewriting, slow reading, reflection on philosophical quotations, philosophical questioning, self-reflection. The hypothesis of the study was that philosophical practice can help a high school student find a balance between online and offline life. It can reduce the negative effects of communication and virtualization mediated by technological devices and prevent digital addiction. The results of the experiment showed that the use of a philosophical diary is useful for developing skills in interacting with devices, working with information, digital hygiene and security. Digital asceticism as a pedagogical approach can become a basis for effective and creative educational and extracurricular activities of students. The materials of the study can be used as recommendations for the organization of educational and pedagogical work focused on the formation of digital literacy skills.