On the PublicThe media often talk about public opinion, the 'American' or 'British' public, or the movie-going public. A public can hold an opinion and be divided. What is the public and where did it come from? Is there one public or many? Is the very idea of the public a myth? In this fascinating book, Alastair Hannay explores these questions and unpacks a much talked about but little understood phenomenon. He begins by tracing the origins of the public back to ancient Rome, before arguing that the idea of a public sphere is closely linked to the birth of democracy in the eighteenth century. He also reflects on the Enlightenment and the origins of public opinion, as well as considering the role of the media in creating and manipulating the public, and asks whether the very idea of the public might be uprooted and undermined by the Internet and global technology. Engaging and controversial in equal measure, On the Public also draws on famous thinkers who have written about the public, such as Kierkegaard, Hannah Arendt, John Dewey and Jürgen Habermas. |
Contents
Preface | |
The Public | |
Public as Audience Two 26 | |
The Public Sphere Three 33 | |
Emptying Public Space Five 71 | |
Transforming the Private Sphere Eight 110 | |
Bibliography 137 | |
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Common terms and phrases
able abstract ALASTAIR HANNAY anonymity appear authority become Bio-ethics blade runner called public Chapter common sense commonwealth context critical debate democratic Dewey discothèques discussion Dreyfus Emptying Public Space Enlightenment exploit feel forces freedom G. W. F. Hegel global groups Habermas Hegel human Hume Hume's Ibid idea ideal individual injustice interests Internet Jean Calas judgements Jürgen Habermas Kant Kierkegaard kind least less Lippmann Mark Antony matter means membership ment moral nation nature notion of public offered participation perspective philosopher Plutarch political political absolutism popular possible private citizen Private Sphere protected Public as Audience public opinion public sphere readers reason refer Richard Sennett role Roman Roman forum salon shared Smart Mobs social Søren Kierkegaard speak talk television things thought tion topic Transforming the Private typically University Press Voltaire wider writers