2021 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 113-129
In this paper, we proposed and discussed the dividual-based social system as a way of existence of people in an advanced information society. Instead of considering the individual as a single existence that is indivisible, we propose the dividual as a partial existence of a person arising from inter-personal relationships, and consider that the dividual constitutes the society. First, we introduce the origins of the concept of dividual from difference perspectives, i.e., anthropology, the writer Hirano Keiichiro, psychology and sociology, and the philosopher Deleuze respectively. From these discussions, we define a dividual as an entity that is specifically tied to a platform/institution. By defining the dividual in this way, it is expected to increase the vitality of society, create opportunities for new happiness for people, and develop the society along with digital technology. However, there are many challenges in realizing the society based on dividual. We adopt Lessig's four methods for regulation to clarify the challenges. In the society composed of dividuals, the stability of the architecture and the relationship between internal rules and the laws of the real world are issues to be addressed. In the real world, which is based on the premise of dividuals, the social recognition of dividuals and the legal positioning of dividuals become issues. By overcoming these issues and building the dividual-based social system, people will be able to play their roles fully in the advanced information society represented by Society 5.0.
