Jrgen Habermas

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Jürgen Habermas

• The Public Sphere

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(Political) Public Sphere
Political public sphere Private people who have
come together as a public to use their reason
critically. It is not so much a place as a
series of actions.
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(Literary) Public Sphere

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Hegel, Elements of the Philosophy of Right
State
Civil Society
Family
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Liberal critique of Public opinion
Threat of a tyranny of the majority (Alexis de
Tocqueville, Democracy in America). John Stuart
Mill, in On Liberty The practical principle
which guides people to their opinions on the
regulation of human conduct is the feeling in
each persons mind that everybody should be
required to act as he, and those with whom he
sympathizes, would like them to act (64).
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Weakening of the public sphere

• In the past, the political public sphere
  represented a critical voice that analysed and
  often opposed government action, and prevented
  domination by the powerful state.
• In its mass-mediated form, the public sphere is
  no more than manipulative publicity, conducted by
  politicians, advertising agents and public
  relations experts.

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or what?
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Networked individualism
Rather than relying on a single community for
social capital, individuals often must actively
seek out a variety of appropriate people and
resources for different situations. (Boase et al.
2006 3)
(Boase et al. 2006 55)
Boase, Jeffrey, et al. 2006. The Strength of
Internet Ties. Pew Internet and American Life
Project. PDF online http//www.pewinternet.org/PP
F/r/172/report_display.asp