Mind, beliefs and internet social media: a Peircean perspective

Abstract

Mind for Peirce is a system of beliefs that acts to achieve a certain purpose. Not only Peirce attributes mind to institutions and social groups, but the development of mind depends on the extension of mind beyond individual human minds. Therefore, social communities or institutions embody social habits, and act as minds with their own purposes, fixing beliefs of two types: beliefs of vital importance, and theoretical ones, which have a bearing towards knowledge and truth. Internet social media can be seen as a complex social mind composed of individuals and their digital media that encompasses gadgets, algorithms, and platforms. If internet social media acts in a way to achieve certain beliefs, of what type are they? Are they beliefs of vital importance or theoretical ones that lead to knowledge and truth? Are these two types of beliefs sufficient to understand the modes of action of internet social media?