Yurii Ratushyn, Serhii Polenok

 

 

 

ETHICS OF THE DIGITAL SOCIETY

 

Algorithms of Freedom, Equality, and Justice

 

 

 

 

Contents

Abstract
Conceptual Overview of the Book …………………………………………. 4
From the Authors …………………………………………………………… 6
Book Summary ……………………………………………………………… 7

Introduction

 

Chapter I. The Ethical Architecture of the Digital Society

  1. The Digital Society as an Ethical System (Intersystem Dimension), The Antivirus of Populism ………………………………………………………………………..… 25
  2. The Triad of Values: Freedom, Equality, Justice ………………………………… 27
  3. Digital Ethics as the Fundamental Protocol of Trust ……………………………… 28
  4. Algorithmization of Morality: From Choice to Code ……………………………… 30
  5. Human Dignity in the System of Digital Property ………………………………… 33

 

Chapter II. Ethical Algorithms of the Digital Institutional Platform (DIP)

  1. The Ethical Code of DIP: Institutional Neutrality and Fiscal Justice ……………… 36
  2. The Principle of Digital Fiscal Neutrality — The Immunity of the Ethical Economy …………………………………………………………………………… 39
  3. The Algorithm of Value Distribution: Between Law, Property, and Freedom …… 44
  4. Ethical Architectonics of Digital Ownership ……………………………………… 47
  5. Responsibility and Trust as Foundational Patterns of the DIP …………………… 50

 

Chapter III. Digital Polycentric Institutions (DPI) as Carriers of the Ethical Code

  1. Polycentrism as a Form of Ethical Balance ………………………………………… 52
  2. The Ethics of Multipolarity: From Competition to Complementarity …………… 54
  3. From Influence to Resonance ……………………………………………………… 57
  4. DPIs as Neurons of the Ethical Space of the DIP ………………………………… 58
  5. Neuroethics of Polycentric Interaction ……………………………………………… 60
  6. The Balance of DPIs as a Mechanism to Prevent Digital Totalitarianism ………… 63

 

Chapter IV. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  1. From the Algorithm of Profit to the Algorithm of Conscience …………………… 66
  2. Algorithmic Boundaries of Freedom: When AI’s Decision Becomes Moral ……… 68
  3. Digital Sovereignty of the Person in the Age of Autonomous Systems …………… 71
  4. Neuroethics as a Filter in Human–AI Interaction …………………………………… 73
  5. Ethical Collaboration between AI, DPI, and DIP …………………………………… 75
  6. Responsibility of the Digital Person for AI Actions:

 

Chapter V. Ethics of Digital Currency

  1. Digital Currency as the Ethical Energy of Society ………………………………… 91
  2. The Principle of Fair Value Distribution ………………………………………… 93
  3. Citizen Passive Income (CPI) as a Form of Digital Equality …………………… 95
  4. Ethics of Circulation, Immunity from Speculation, and Preservation of Dignity … 96
  5. Digital Currency as an Instrument of Peace, Not Control ………………………… 98
  6. Ethical Infrastructure of Digital Stability ………………………………………… 100
  7. The Impact of Ethical Digital Currency on National Jurisdictions ……………… 103

 

Chapter VI. Ethics of Digital Property

  1. Property as a Moral Choice in the Digital World ………………………………… 105
  2. Digital Identity and Personal Data: Ethical Inviolability of Ownership ………… 107
  3. Property under the Mode of Shared Responsibility ……………………………… 109
  4. The Algorithm of Ethical Ownership: Right + Responsibility …………………… 111
  5. From Fiscal Pressure to Ethical Autonomy ……………………………………… 113
  6. The Impact of Digital Property on Global Balance and Sovereignty …………… 115

 

Chapter VII. Ethics of Sustainable Development

  1. The Interconnection of Ethics, Ecology, and Economy …………………………… 118
  2. The Ethics of Managing Sustainable Development Projects …………………… 121
  3. Ethical Responsibility of States, Corporations, and Communities ……………… 124
  4. Projects of the Sustainable Development Hub as Ethical Spaces ………………… 126
  5. Tax Immunity as a Form of Ethical Balance ……………………………………… 129
  6. Patterns, Replications, and the Algorithm of an Ethical Sustainable Digital Economy (SDE) ……………………………………………………………………… 132

 

Chapter VIII. Ethics of the New System of International Security

  1. Morality as the Foundation of Peace ……………………………………………… 135
  2. From Power Balance to Ethical Equilibrium ……………………………………… 138
  3. The Role of DIP in Building Ethical Security ……………………………………… 140
  4. Ethical Jurisdiction as an Alternative to Coercive Law …………………………… 143
  5. Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention through Ethical Algorithmics ……………… 147
  6. Strategy for Applying DIP/DPI to End the War in Ukraine ……………………… 149

 

Chapter IX. The Balance of Polycentrism

  1. Polycentric Equilibrium as a Form of Peaceful Coexistence …………………… 151
  2. From Unipolar Control to Polycentric Ethics ……………………………………… 156
  3. Ethical Mechanisms of Self-Regulation in the Global System …………………… 158
  4. Polycentrism as the Structure of Justice ………………………………………… 161
  5. Ethical Platform of DPIs in the Digital World …………………………………… 163

 

Chapter X. Mathematical Models of Ethical Equilibrium

  1. Model 1: The Algorithm of Freedom — F = f(S, C, V) …………………………… 167
  2. Model 2: The Algorithm of Equality — E = f(R, D, A) …………………………… 171
  3. Model 3: The Algorithm of Justice — J = f(V, L, T) ……………………………… 173
  4. Model 4: Ethical Equilibrium of Polycentrism — P = f(C₁…Cₙ, E, J) …………… 175
  5. Model 5: CPI as a Function of Ethical Balance — U = f(F, E, J) ………………… 178
  6. Analytical Commentary: CPI as an Innovative Model of Digital Prosperity ……… 181
  7. Model 6: Fiscal Ethical Neutrality — T_nat = f(D, V_r, P_l) ……………………… 182

 

Chapter XI. The Human Being as the Ethical Center of the Digital Society

  1. Personal Sovereignty as an Ethical Norm ………………………………………… 184
  2. The Digital Person as an Ethical Subject of DIP …………………………………… 187
  3. The Algorithm of Humanity in the Machine World ……………………………… 190
  4. Digital Spirituality and Civilitary Relations ……………………………………… 193
  5. The Human as the Ethical Center of the Digital Civilization …………………… 198
  6. The New Humanism of the Digital Age …………………………………………… 201

 

Conclusion

Glossary (Definitions) ……………………………………………………………………… 210
Appendix: Strategic Action Plan of the Hub “New System of International Security” ……. 211

 

Abstract

 

Ethics of the Digital Society: Algorithms of Freedom, Equality, and Justice is a systemic work that defines a new humanistic philosophy of the digital era — where morality and algorithm merge into a single ethical architecture of humanity.


This book marks the third stage in the evolution of the Digital Society concept — following the legal, political, and economic foundations laid out in the authors’ previous works. If the Constitution of the Digital Society established the legal and value-based framework of the digital world, and Geopolitics and Geo-economics of the Digital Society defined its place in the global polycentric structure, then Ethics of the Digital Society explains how ethical algorithms sustain the balance of freedom, equality, and justice — creating conditions for universal peace, sustainable development, and a new system of international security.


At the center of the study lies the human being as an ethical subject, property as a manifestation of responsibility, and values — freedom, equality, and justice — as the eternal patterns of civilitary development. These three institutions — Human, Property, and Value — form the moral core of the digital civilization.

 

 

 


Yurii Ratushyn, Serhii Polenok

 

 

Ethics of the Digital Society:

 

Algorithms of Freedom, Equality and Justice

 

 

 

Summary

 

 

 

I. The Ethical Paradigm of the Digital Society

 

The digital society, as conceptualized by the authors, emerges not merely as a technological phenomenon but as an ethical transformation of civilization. It represents a new phase in human evolution — one in which artificial intelligence, distributed governance, and digital institutions must all be subordinated to the moral architecture of humanity.

 

The ethical paradigm of the digital society rests on three fundamental patterns of values — freedom, equality, and justice. These patterns, inherited from the classical civilizational triad, act not as abstract ideals but as regulatory algorithms within the Digital Institutional Platform (DIP). The DIP serves as the ethical and institutional core of digital civilization, ensuring that technological development remains consistent with human dignity and responsibility.

 

In this new order, ethics is no longer limited to human behavior — it becomes a systemic property of the entire digital environment. The architecture of platforms, algorithms, and networks must embody moral logic, transforming the machine world into a continuation of human ethical space. Digital ethics thus becomes the medium through which society preserves its humanity in the age of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.

 

 

 

II. From Moral Philosophy to Digital Ethics

 

Traditional moral philosophy has always been concerned with the questions of good, duty, and virtue — but the digital epoch redefines these categories through the prism of algorithmic decision-making and data governance. Digital ethics, in this sense, is not a new morality but an evolved form of applied philosophy — the ethics of interconnected systems that extend human agency.

 

The transition from moral philosophy to digital ethics requires the institutionalization of ethical norms within technological infrastructures. The Digital Institutional Platform (DIP) performs this function by embedding moral imperatives into the operational logic of digital governance. Here, ethical responsibility becomes not only individual but structural — encoded within algorithms, protocols, and decentralized decision-making mechanisms.

 

Freedom, equality, and justice thus acquire algorithmic form. They cease to exist as external principles and become inherent codes governing digital interactions. Ethical conduct in the digital society means acting within this encoded moral framework — one that reflects humanity’s highest values and ensures the integrity of civilitary relations (the new type of social relations combining civic and civilizational dimensions).

 

Digital ethics therefore transforms ethics itself — from a doctrine of moral behavior into an institutional discipline, from abstract philosophy into the operating system of the digital world.

 

 

 

III. The Evolution of Responsibility in a Machine World

 

The emergence of artificial intelligence, neural networks, and autonomous systems has redefined the locus of responsibility. In the machine world, where actions are increasingly delegated to algorithms, the question “Who is responsible?” acquires unprecedented depth.

 

The authors argue that responsibility in the digital society is polycentric — distributed among humans, institutions, and intelligent agents. This principle of polycentric responsibility ensures that no single node — human or machine — monopolizes moral authority. Instead, ethical accountability circulates through the network, creating a self-regulating ethical environment.

 

The Digital Polycentric Institutes (DPIs) serve as guardians of this distributed moral order. They function as ethical mediators between human intentions and algorithmic executions, maintaining balance and transparency across digital systems. Within this architecture, a new category emerges — the digital person — an entity endowed with digital identity, ownership rights, and ethical obligations corresponding to its level of autonomy.

 

Responsibility in the machine world thus evolves from external control to internalized coordination — from punishment and regulation to ethical synchronization. It is no longer about assigning guilt but about ensuring coherence between the actions of humans and intelligent systems.

 

In this way, the ethics of responsibility becomes the fundamental algorithm of coexistence between man and machine, transforming digital civilization into an ethically sustainable ecosystem.

 

 

 

IV. Digital Polycentric Institutes: Algorithms of Balance

 

Digital Polycentric Institutes (DPIs) function as the ethical neurons of the digital society. They ensure equilibrium between the autonomy of individual centers and the harmony of the entire digital organism. Unlike monopolistic or centralized systems, where power is concentrated in one authority and risks corruption, discrimination, and inequality, polycentric structures distribute knowledge, resources, and decision-making.

 

Each DPI performs local functions while interacting with other centers through ethical algorithms of solidarity, subsidiarity, and self-limitation. Solidarity guarantees support for weaker participants; subsidiarity ensures decisions are made at the lowest effective level; self-limitation prevents any center from dominating the system.

 

Through this architecture, DPIs create a network of trust, where information, resources, and decisions undergo ethical verification. Interaction algorithms enforce transparency and accountability, reducing the risk of abuse and creating conditions for equitable participation of all digital persons.

 

Combined with the Digital Institutional Platform, polycentric institutes enable algorithmic balance, making freedom, equality, and justice not merely ideals but practically functioning principles. They sustain development and trust, transforming the digital society into a self-regulating, ethically balanced ecosystem.

 

 

 

V. AI Ethics: From Algorithm of Benefit to Algorithm of Conscience

 

Artificial intelligence in the digital society ceases to be merely a tool — it becomes an ethical agent capable of decisions impacting freedom, equality, and justice. Autonomy of AI, however, raises the critical question: when does an algorithm cease to be a mechanism and become a moral subject?

 

The authors introduce the concept of the digital person as a responsible subject. Every AI action within the DIP or under the aegis of DPIs is linked to the digital person who activates and supervises it. Responsibility for algorithmic decisions does not vanish into the machine; it remains an intrinsic part of the ethical system.

 

Algorithms of conscience define permissible AI actions, surpassing simple logic of benefit by establishing moral boundaries where machine decisions are assessed according to ethical values. This ensures a balance between system autonomy and human oversight, integrating AI into the broader ethical ecosystem of the digital society.

 

Neuroethics acts as a critical filter in human-AI interactions, evaluating risks to privacy, fairness, and social stability. Through DPI and DIP collaboration, AI not only executes algorithmic decisions but harmonizes with the ethical model of society.

 

Thus, AI ethics in the digital society is not external control, but an embedded architecture of moral responsibility, supporting resilience, trust, and balance within a polycentric system.

 

 

VI. Ethics of Digital Property and Digital Currency

 

Digital property and currency become essential instruments of ethical regulation in the digital society. Beyond economic functions, they act as ethical markers, defining rights, obligations, and responsibilities of digital persons.

 

Digital property safeguards autonomy and freedom, guaranteeing individual control over data, intellectual property, and digital assets, while simultaneously establishing obligations for fair use and interaction within the ecosystem.

 

The DIP digital currency embodies fiscal neutrality and ethical value principles. It enables transactions free of discrimination, ensuring transparency and accountability, and maintains equilibrium between personal gain and collective benefit. Ethical constraints are automatically embedded into the currency algorithms, preventing power concentration and economic inequality.

 

Together, digital property and currency create an institutional framework supporting fair resource allocation and encouraging responsible behavior. They function as ethical pillars of the DIP, ensuring economic activity remains within moral bounds and contributes to sustainable development.

 

 

 

VII. Charitable Funds as Ethical Cores of the Digital Economy

 

Charitable funds serve as ethical central nodes within the digital economy, sustaining resilience, trust, and balance in both DIP and DPIs. Beyond financial stability, they provide a moral foundation for the development of digital institutions.

 

Through the mechanism of Civil Passive Income (CPI), funds redistribute resources from digital assets and instruments to communities, creating an ethical cycle of allocation. This prevents power concentration, guarantees equal opportunities for all digital persons, and sustains stable social processes.

 

The principle of ethical fiscal neutrality ensures that fund operations do not create economic advantage at the expense of others. Funds simultaneously act as catalysts for innovation and sustainable development, supporting Hub projects, DPI initiatives, and social programs.

 

Charitable funds become moral regulators of the economy, integrating freedom, equality, and justice into the financial architecture of the digital society. They ensure that profit and societal benefit are unified within one system, sustaining long-term stability and harmony.

 

Thus, charitable funds constitute the ethical cores of the digital economy, where digital property, currency, and social responsibility converge into a single system capable of supporting sustainable development and trust in the digital environment.

 

 

 

VIII. International Ethics and Digital Diplomacy

 

Digital society transcends national borders, creating a polycentric legal and ethical space. Traditional state-centric diplomacy is supplemented by networks of digital persons, DPIs, and the DIP, enabling negotiation, consensus, and conflict resolution through ethical algorithms.

 

Digital diplomacy relies on transparency, accountability, and equity. Every action of a digital person or institute in cross-border interactions is ethically verified. This ensures compliance with the universal principles of freedom, equality, and justice, while respecting local cultural and legal contexts.

 

Ethical international cooperation leverages algorithmic consensus mechanisms, reducing political manipulation, preventing corruption, and enhancing mutual trust. The DIP provides a framework for responsible global coordination, where digital treaties, cross-border projects, and sustainable development initiatives are executed under ethical supervision.

 

By embedding ethics in international processes, the digital society establishes a global trust architecture, where cooperation, security, and development coexist without coercion or inequality.

 

 

 

IX. Sustainable Development and Ethical Innovation

 

Sustainable development in the digital society is inseparable from ethics. Every project, policy, and technological innovation is evaluated not only for efficiency but also for its impact on freedom, equality, and justice.

 

Ethical innovation requires the integration of DPIs, AI, digital property, and charitable funds. These mechanisms collectively ensure that economic, environmental, and social outcomes align with the moral architecture of society.

 

Algorithmic sustainability operates as a continuous feedback loop: data on resource use, social impact, and economic distribution informs real-time adjustments, guided by ethical algorithms. This prevents exploitation, supports vulnerable participants, and harmonizes human and digital activities.

 

Through this framework, digital society achieves a resilient, adaptive, and morally grounded system, where technological progress serves humanity rather than overriding it.

 

 

 

X. Human-Centric Architecture of the Digital World

 

At the apex of digital society lies the human being as the ethical center. All algorithms, institutions, and systems are designed to serve human freedom, creativity, and moral responsibility.

 

Digital society formalizes the concept of the digital person, linking rights, duties, and ethical obligations to every interaction. Human oversight remains the ultimate guarantor of ethical compliance, while DPIs and AI support, rather than replace, human judgment.

 

This architecture ensures that freedom is balanced by equality, autonomy by responsibility, and innovation by justice. Technological tools, digital property, currency, and institutional mechanisms all function to enhance human dignity and preserve moral integrity.

 

Therefore, the complete architecture of the digital world must be built around the human being — as the source of meaning, freedom, and ethics.