Zeitschrift für Semiotik

This issue explores the phenomenon of self-optimization from an interdisciplinary perspective. The contributions examine the historical foundations, current manifestations, and future trajectories of a discourse that affects both individual life practices and broader social structures. At the core are practices, technologies, and conceptual frameworks of self-enhancement – from digital tracking systems and social media to posthumanist visions. The issue critically reflects on the ethical, social, and cultural implications of these developments. It shows how self-optimization can serve both as an expression of individual autonomy and as a mechanism of societal control. The relationship between freedom, regulation, and responsibility thus being reframed.