Agnes Callard Frames Internet Divisiveness With 1-Word 'Uni-Context' Theory
Updated
Updated · Semafor · Jul 16
Agnes Callard Frames Internet Divisiveness With 1-Word 'Uni-Context' Theory
1 articles · Updated · Semafor · Jul 16
Summary
University of Chicago philosopher Agnes Callard argues that the internet feels exhausting and divisive because people now live in a shared "uni-context" rather than separate social worlds.
Technology is the driver, she says, collapsing once-closed contexts into one constant conversation that reshapes how people experience time, attention and morality.
That forced overlap also intensifies comparison and competition, offering a philosophical explanation for why online life can feel unusually draining and conflict-heavy.
The idea was presented on Derek Thompson's Plain English podcast, where he called it one of the most original arguments he had heard in a long time.