The Illusion of Presence: ontological limits of algorithmic mediation in contemporary subjectivity
PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) April 24, 2026 Matheus Vinicius Duarte de Souza
Algorithmic hyperconnectivity increases the quantity of contact between people but empties out the shared vulnerability that makes genuine human bonds possible. Drawing on phenomenology and enactivism, the essay argues that algorithmically mediated presence creates a structural illusion: subjects experience connection without genuine exposure, proximity without risk, and communication without true encounter. The implications of this illusion are discussed for clinical psychology, philosophy of mind, and understanding contemporary suffering.