英语论文网

free circulation from the moment we experience them. The only restriction is on the copying of the actual products themselves, that is, not the intellectual or creative inspiration that follows from their consumption. Adkinson concludes: “… the fact remains that the vast majority of us… are overwhelmingly consumers of culture, enjoying the works created by those willing to invest their talents, energy and money in creating music, movies, games, and other forms of digital entertainment products. The Copy Leftists are entitled to their vision, and in fact the digital revolution greatly expands the possibility for interactivity. But they can and should pursue this vision without undermining the copyright system that enables us to enjoy a cornucopia of entertainment and cultural works.” Unit 5: Week 10 Communication and Ethics Keywords: . Pragmatism . public sphere (Habermas) . communicative rationality (Habermas) . instrumental rationality (Habermas) . dependency effect (Galbraith) . phishing 1. Context and Perspective: Pragmatism " We only think when we are confronted with a problem." John Dewey, Pragmatist, 1859-1952 a. background to Pragmatism The Wikipedia defines Pragmatism as follows: “Pragmatism is a school of philosophy that originated in the United States in the late 1800s. Pragmatism is characterized by the insistence on consequences, utility and practicality as vital components of truth. Pragmatism objects to the view that human concepts and intellect alone accurately represent reality, and therefore stands in opposition to both formalist and rationalist schools of philosophy. Rather, pragmatism holds it is only in the struggle of intelligent organisms with the surrounding environment that theories and data acquire significance.” Pragmatism should not be confused with the popular idea of being “pragmatic”—that is, practical—though the school of thought and the common word are semantically related to one another. Pragmatism is an early twentieth century body of philosophical thought with a significant interest in communication, and a school that has enjoyed a revival in recent years. Pragmatism is a school of thought in communication studies with an impressive philosophical pedigree, yet with a highly refined ethical sense. Reconciling heart and mind, pragmatists like John Dewey, William James, C.S. Pierce, and others committed to the reform of American society in the 1890s-1930s researched the nature of communication and its role within democratic society. Today, communication theorist Jurgen Habermas and philosopher Richard Rorty consider themselves heirs to the Pragmatist tradition. A website for all things Pragmatist can be found at the Rogue’s Gallery. True to its name, the Pragmatist tradition sought to bring philosophical ideas to bear on the practical problems of American society. They were in this sense “pragmatic,” and rejected existing European traditions of high theory in preference for a New World emphasis on putting thought to work. Theirs was also a mission of ethical reform, as Pragmatist philosophers addressed what they felt were endemic problems in American education, religion, politics, and other institutions. This is why they represent an appropriate subject for the preface to the AC640 course’s ethics section. Pragmatism was a response by American intellectuals to the peculiar cha