IPT Talk Series 2024-25

Prashant Kumar

(University of Delhi)

21 November 2024, 18:00–19:00 (Athens Time, GMT+2) – Online (MS Teams)

The Metaphysics of Memes

This talk explores the metaphysical dimensions of memes, deciphering their ontological status, modes of existence, and their capacity for shaping human consciousness in a new digital era. The discussion runs around the concept of memes as abstract informational entities, constructing its teleo-ontological reality between mental and virtual. By evaluating their role(s) in shaping human consciousness, collective identity and their collective consciousness, and in turn framing ground for a new “reality”, the study interrogates whether memes possess intrinsic meaning or whether their construction is entirely context-dependent. Conclusively, the metaphysical investigation of memes offers a novel framework for considering how digital information reshapes ontological categories and challenges classical metaphysical distinctions.

Dr. Prashant Kumar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Delhi University, where he specializes in ontology, metaontology, and metalogic. He earned his Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India. With a robust research portfolio, Dr. Kumar has contributed significantly to philosophical discourse, examining foundational questions about existence and reality. His future research interests lie in exploring the ontological implications of emerging technologies such as the metaverse, virtual reality, and augmented reality, aiming to understand how these digital environments reshape our conceptual understanding of fundamental tenets of ontology. 

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