A new “Ring of Gyges” and the meaning of invisibility in the information revolution
| Published date | 09 November 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14779961011093354 |
| Pages | 364-376 |
| Date | 09 November 2010 |
| Author | Ugo Pagallo |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
A new “Ring of Gyges”
and the meaning of invisibility
in the information revolution
Ugo Pagallo
Law School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to examine the profound transformations engendered by the information
revolution in order to determine aspects of what should be visible or invisible in human affairs. It seeks
to explore the meaning of invisibility via an interdisciplinary approach, including computer science,
law, and ethics.
Design/methodology/approach – The method draws on both theoretical and empirical material so
as to scrutinise the ways in which today’s information revolution is recasting the boundaries between
visibility and invisibility.
Findings – The degrees of exposure to public notice can be understood as a matter of balance
between access and control over information in a specific context, as well as a function of the
ontological friction in a given region of the environment.
Originality/value – The originality of the case study on a new kind of recommender system is
enhanced because of the procedural approach which is suggested to further develop the distinction
between “good” and “evil” as anything that enriches, or damages, the informational complexity of the
environment.
Keywords Copyright law, Datasecurity, Ethics
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
Since ancient times, the magic of turning invisible has struck people’s imagination as
well as the reflection of philosophers. One of the most relevant examples is, of course,
Plato’s tale in the second book of Republic. Aiming to prove that men practice justice
“only by force of law toward the esteem of the equal” (Resp., II, 359 B), Plato’s brother,
Glaucon, recalls the story of Gyges the Lydian, a “shepherd” who became invisible by
simply turning the collets of his ring inwards: “Having perceived this, he at once
managed for himself to become one of the envoys to the king; upon arrival, having
seduced his wife, with her help, he laid a hand on the king, murdered him and took hold
of the leadership” (Resp., II, 360 B).
What was a thought experiment and even a provocation for Glaucon, has now
turned into reality with the “information revolution” (Bynum, 2009). There are indeed
various techniques to visualize what traditionally was invisible or simply unknown
(e.g. hyper-tech satellites or biometrics); but, like in the story of Gyges, we also have
programs that work the other way around, turning invisible what was once visib le
(e.g. some new recommender systems on the internet). Besides, there are applications
that achieve both results by exploiting some topological properties of digital
environments (e.g. peer-to-peer (P2P) “small world” features). So, going back to the
perspective suggested by Plato, the “information revolution” revives the classic debate
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
JICES
8,4
364
Received 13 October 2008
Revised 4 June 2009
Accepted 18 May 2010
Journal of Information,
Communication & Ethics in Society
Vol. 8 No. 4, 2010
pp. 364-376
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/14779961011093354
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