THE SMART CITY AS A PHILOSOPHICAL PHENOMENON

The article presents a philosophical and cultural analysis of the phenomenon of the “smart city” as a multidimensional entity that goes beyond technical and infrastructural projects, emerging as a space of freedom, responsibility, and coexistence.It demonstrates that the smart city today functions not only as a tool of digitalization and optimization of urban processes but also as a laboratory of new social practices, moral orientations, and cultural meanings. The classical tradition of understanding the city is explored: from the ancient polis, which Aristotle interpreted as the natural form of realizing human nature as a political and ethical being, to the Ukrainian philosophical thought of Hryhorii Skovoroda, who emphasized the importance of “congenial labor” and inner harmony as the foundations of collective life. The article argues that the idea of the smart city embodies this heritage, offering a contemporary space for the realization of the existential and ethical dimensions of human existence. Particular attention is paid to European smart city models (Barcelona, Copenhagen, Vienna), interpreted through the lens of Hannah Arendt’s concept of the “space of appearance” and Jürgen Habermas’s idea of the “public sphere.” It is highlighted that European smart urbanism is not merely a technological strategy but also a philosophy of coexistence, where technology becomes an instrument of communicative rationality, social justice, and ecological responsibility. It is emphasized that, in the European context, the “rationality” of a city is measured not by the number of sensors or algorithms, but by its capacity to foster justice, inclusiveness, and the dignity of its citizens. The study reveals the differences between European and Ukrainian discourses on smart cities. While the European model is grounded in a long-standing tradition of the city as a space of sustainability and civic ethics, the Ukrainian concept remains in search of its own value code. For Ukraine, the smart city is not only a tool of modernization and digital integration into the European space but also an existential response to the challenges of war, globalization, and societal transformation.In this sense, the Ukrainian experience can acquire universal significance, showing that smart urbanism is not limited to technical efficiency but constitutes a struggle for dignity, freedom, and the creation of new forms of coexistence.Thus, the article argues that the “smart city” should be understood as a philosophical phenomenon where technology, culture, ethics, and historical memory intertwine. Its future will be determined not only by technological progress but, above all, by the extent to which the urban space can become an environment for authentic existence, ethical interaction, and the development of human virtues.