Abstract: This article explores the problem of utopian universals applicable to the concept of “information society”. The author interprets utopian universals as most general representations on the best social structure that became widespread within a particular epistemological tradition. The subject of this research is the determination and evolution of the universal social attributes characteristic to projects of best social structure within the epistemological tradition of scientific rationality developed throughout the XVI – XXI centuries. From T. Mohr's "Utopia" to D. Bell's "post-industrial Society" and M. Castells '"Information Age", the author traces the universal features of social attribution. The researcher comes to the conclusion that projects of an optimal or ideal social structure, changing their concrete form of expression, retain a utopian character throughout the entire line of development of the epistemological tradition of scientific rationality. Utopian universals of aggregation and codification of theoretical knowledge, transformation of science into the major driving force of political and economic development, transition of power to the wisemen-philosophers, collective maximally egalitarian and democratic participation in decision-making is the attributes that to greater or lesser degree are inherent to the utopias of Western civilization, beginning with the work of T. More. These same attributes retain in the concept of information society, which allows raising the question of the need for critical revision as a theoretical scientific concept and practical political project of the information society.

Abstract: The subject field of this research is the combination of cultural phenomena, which correlate with the initially highlighted concept of “post-truth” through generalization of its criteria. The traditionally narrow understanding of post-truth is associated with news reports of mass media. However, the distortion of actual picture, using the techniques of heuristic rhetoric and mechanisms that instigate cognitive biases is a more common situation in modern society, which unites various communication phenomena, touches upon news and everyday communication, artistic endeavor, and many other areas. The specific subject of research is the range of possible scenarios of social development depending on its response to proliferation of the phenomena that comprise the cultural-communication complex of “post-truth”. This article is the first attempt of scientific summary of the phenomenal picture of post-truth based on the competent expansion of the criteria from the partial instances to the general mechanisms. Partial criteria, such as neglecting objective factors in the report, appeal to human values and ideologies, use of emotional pressure for substantiating own opinion, the author replaces with the general: media distortion of reality as a goal of report, use of cognitive biases, use of mechanisms of heuristics. Based on the highlighted criteria, the author analyzes the question of semantic and cultural correlation with post-truth of such as the phenomena as the fan theories of two types, litbaits, pop science, folk history, astroturfing, fan fakes, clickbaits, narrative journalism, etc. Scientific novelty also consists in outlining the possible scenarios for social development and its communication environment depending on the strategies of response to expansion of the sphere of post-truth.

Abstract: The author examines the problem of evolution of the social and cultural institutions that emerge within the framework of implementing the project of “Information Society”. The subject of this research is the development trends, which ensure the process of humanization of the society. Information society is designed at two levels – the level visionaries and technical specialists, and the level of global politics, presented by the state leaders and transnational corporations. In both cases, the project of information society is the version of scientist utopia; however, the most noticeable trends underline the dystopian character of the nearest future. Therefore, it is so important to identify the trends towards humanization of the society, which became the result of the processes of establishment of information society. To the number of the determined humanistic trends of the development of information society the author refers the following: qualitative increase of the level of cooperation and self-organization of human communities; voluntarism and collective action; quality change in the monetization models of intellectual property and exclusive rights of the author; transition towards post-capitalistic exchange logic, for example, digital daronomics; growing control of civil society over the political sphere; information permeability of margins; work release; increasing the number of creative industry employees and scientific workers. The scientific novelty lies in actualization of the discourse of strong humanistic utopia in the context of social transformation, caused by the development and implementation of digital technologies.