Human Rights in the Era of Metamodernism: The Imagination of Happiness and Loneliness as Social Constructs

Abstract

The article examines the transformation of ideas about happiness and loneliness as social constructs in the context of the metamodern era and their influence on the reconsideration of the concept of human rights. The aim of the study is to identify how emotional and existential categories - in particular, happiness as a desired state and loneliness as a socially undesirable experience - acquire normative status in contemporary legal discourse. The author analyzes how these notions are shaped under the influence of digital media, cultural narratives, and political strategies.

Methodologically, the study is based on an interdisciplinary approach, conducting a comparative analysis of philosophical texts, media discourses, and normative legal acts that represent notions of happiness and loneliness in contemporary society. Particular attention is paid to how these notions are institutionalized through welfare policies, digital platforms, and human rights initiatives. The study's findings indicate that in the context of metamodernism, happiness is increasingly viewed as a subjective right requiring social recognition and institutional support, whereas loneliness is seen as a social pathology necessitating intervention from the state or civil society. Notions of happiness and loneliness thus become not only subjects of cultural reflection but also factors shaping new legal norms that regulate the emotional life of the individual.

The conclusions emphasize that human rights in the era of metamodernism require reconsideration as a dynamic, contextual, and culturally sensitive phenomenon. The author suggests viewing emotional states not as private experiences but as socially mediated constructs that hold normative power in contemporary society. This opens up prospects for developing new approaches to human rights that take into account the affective dimensions of human existence, particularly in the context of digital transformation and the growing role of algorithmic governance. The study offers a new perspective on the affective dimensions of human rights in the digital age, combining philosophical reflections with legal discourse.