Open Conference Systems, Seminar Nasional Filsafat 2025

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Honesty and Responsibility in the Virtual Relationships of Youth: An Ethical Review Based on Emmanuel Levinas
Nikolius Delki Sapa

Last modified: 2025-10-17

Abstract


This study analyzes the virtual relationships of today’s youth through the lens of Emmanuel Levinas’s ethics. The central issue addressed is the rise of dishonesty and the decline of ethical values in online interactions. The aim is to understand how Levinas’s ethical framework can be integrated into virtual relationships, fostering a digital space that is both comfortable and credible by instilling values of honesty and personal responsibility in every virtual individual. The research employs a literature-based and philosophical-descriptive method, drawing on relevant sources to examine the topic. The findings indicate that Levinas’s ethics can extend into the realm of social media interactions, where honesty and responsibility are key factors in creating trustworthy and meaningful virtual relationships. Honesty in online communication enables individuals to build broader connections, while responsibility should serve as the foundational principle for initiating interactions. Levinas emphasizes that “the Other” beyond ourselves demands our ethical responsibility to respect and honor them. Even in the absence of physical encounters, Levinas’s ethical values remain crucial in virtual relationships. This study is relevant to the development of technology, particularly social media, as it highlights the importance of ethical considerations in shaping new relational spaces.


 


Keywords


Virtual relationships, Emmanuel Levinas's ethics, Youth, Ethical values