Relationship and the Good Life in Technological Age

The ubiquity of digital technologies of the 21st century has been shaping and re-shaping our social interaction and relationships with others. We can become hyper-connected, when instant messaging apps allow us to share our feelings and trivialities of life instantly. Meanwhile, we can become disengaged in relationships when we are distracted by our device in social gatherings and family dinners. Indeed, there is growing scholarly attention on how the technological age featuring hyperconnected relationships challenges the good life (e.g. Robson 2016; Vallor 2016; Greenfield 2014). In response to the challenges, Vallor (2016) proposes a list of techno-moral virtue and wisdom that can guide us to secure the good life in this technological age, based on a virtue ethical framework. On her list there are moral attention, critical self-examination, perspective, care, patience, etc., many of which are crucial in our dealings with relationships. However, she does not include solitude on the list.
This paper makes a case for including solitude as a technomoral virtue. I first offer a characterization of solitude in the context of the technological age. Next, drawing on philosophical works (e.g. Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Koch) and scientific study of solitude, I demonstrate the significance of solitude in relationships and in the good life: it can help shield against threats posed by hyperconnected relationships while facilitating the technomoral virtues and wisdom. The paper also invites reflection on what is crucial in a relationship and in the good life in the technological age.