municated with each other in interpersonal or
mediated circumstances.
Dewey saw interpersonal communication as a rich process of integrating sensory data,
then sharing it with others. Words and other signs allow us to select an element of sensory experience—things we might think, feel, see, or do—and fix these otherwise
transitory moments into something of cultural value. Once we capture these accidental
sensory stimuli in the form of a sign, it begins to take on meaning. The more that these
signs are shared, the more complex and semiotically rich they become. Out of such raw
sensory data, in other words, emerged novels, constitutions, movies, and other
remarkable cultural achievements.
Meaning is thus a collective responsibility in the Pragmatist view of communication, and
something born not of abstract philosophical premises, but everyday experience. They
felt communication (and the culture that issued from communication) to be organic in
character, emerging from natural human processes, and described interpersonal and
mass media communication as “organized intelligence” that circulated in a healthy
society. Where this circulation was impaired, such as when people withdrew from public
life because of boredom or fear, or where media monopolies damaged free press ideals,
society became undemocratic.
c. Habermas: instrumental and communicative rationality
The chart below illustrates points that will be referred to in our podcast on 英语论文网 【http://www.51lunwen.org】the online
“Public Space and Political Public Sphere,” indicated for this week’s
essay by Habermas,
readings. Remember that Habermas is, with Richard Rorty, the best-known
representative of the Pragmatist position today.
instrumental rationality: communicative rationality:
(what Habermas fears has taken over (Habermas's solution to instrumental
public discourse, e.g., spin control, public rationality and loss of the public sphere)
relations, opinion polling, etc.)
basic premises: basic premises:
. represents the perversion of rationality . creates a subject-subject relationship (i.e.,
(unexpected byproduct of modern world) people relate to each other as human
subjects)
. creates subject-object relationship (i.e.,
people are transformed into objects, and . in contrast to semiotics, emphasizes
relate to each other as objects) actual "pragmatics" of speech (parole)
rather than deep structure (langue)
what is valued? (i.e., the "lifeworld")
what is valued? (i.e., the "system")
. communication is inherently rational and
. media are primary agents of instrumental
ethical, since it requires a relationship
rationality (insofar as they connect us to
based on mutual comprehension and
the market, state, technologies, etc.)
sharing of world views
. "system" values efficiency, order,
. primarily concerned with "ends" (i.e.,
predictability
ethical goals that transcend the particular
context), not means
.
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