A Critical Review of "Webfare: A Manifesto for Digital Well-Being" by Maurizio Ferraris

Abstract

This review analyzes Webfare: A Manifesto for Digital Well-Being (2024) by Maurizio Ferraris, a work that proposes a philosophical and political framework for digital justice based on the redistribution of value generated through data. Grounded in an ontology of the digital trace and the theory of documentality, Ferraris introduces a model of digital welfare that replaces the meritocratic paradigm with one rooted in need. The review explores the book's six chapters, highlighting key contributions—such as the redefinition of labor, critique of human capital, and proposal for a data-based economy—while also addressing its normative and institutional shortcomings. Ultimately, Webfare is presented as a philosophy of hope that, despite its conceptual strength, still demands further development in terms of political and legal implementation.