Course

Year

: O0242/Philosophy and Ethics

Communication
: November 2013

ASPECTS AND PERSPECTIVES OF

PHILOSOPHY
Session 2

I. Aspects of philosophy
Aspects of Philosophy also known as Three Major
Constructing Philosophy
1.Ontology
Study of Existence / Reality Structure
At the level of the ontology showing the relationship
between existential (being) and spirit (spirit)
Ontology also examines the assumptions of science
(analytical knowledge). Assumption inferred from
the fact as it is (das sein) and not from the fact that
should be (das sollen)
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2. Epistemology
Also called theory of knowledge
There is a difference between rationalism and
empiricism in terms of knowledge of the truth
Rationalism: the right is in the idea (coherence)
Empiricism: true in reality (correspondence)
The scientific method prioritizes Logico hypotetico
verificatio consisting of: problem formulation,
preparation of conceptual framework, hypothesis
formulation, data collection (hypothesis test), drawing
conclusions

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3. Axiology
Study of all that is valuable / useful (core values)
Value is subjective, the value is real but not in
space and time, the value of the objective
elements that make up reality
Two groups of scientists contradictory about
science:
a. Group I: science must be neutral
b. Group II: science is pragmatic (it should be
socially responsible and ethical
responsibility), not neutral
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II. Philosophical Aspects of Communication

1. Communication Ontology
Ontology communication discusses the existence of communication
Science communication was developed to expand the study of development, especially
in newly independent countries after World War II
Object of science communication: newspapers, news / journalism, public
communication and interpersonal reality
So, the science of human communication include all statements either through mass
media and rhetoric as well as those undertaken directly
Perspective classic / mechanical conceptualize interpersonal communication as a
mechanistic process in which a (message) flows across the space / time from one point
(donor) to another point (receiver)

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 The psychological perspective of communication to

understand the communication as a process of internal
acceptance and processing of information in human beings.
Empirical existence (its locus) is located on human beings: the
attitudes, perceptions, beliefs and desires
Perspective pragmatic (the latest understanding) to
understand the communication as a behavioral system. The
existence of empirical (its locus) on the behavior so that its
components include patterns, interactions, systems, structures
and functions.
To conceptualize communication from the perspective of
psychology, interactional and pragmatic needs radical change
from the old mechanistic way of thinking. For the study of the
dynamics of communication continue to evolve over time
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2. Communications Epistemology
Epistemology of communication: theory of knowledge
about the methodology of science communication
including research methods
Methodology is the path to scientific knowledge
Scientific research: intellectual work to reach the truth
The scientific method includes: bring something, to
confirm something, get rid of something and explain the
theory
Two types of communication research methods: deductive
(general-specific) and inductive (specific-general)
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3. Axiology Communications
Axiology is value of science communications
Axiology of communication include: logic, ethics and
aesthetics
Logic is necessary in the communication process because it
thought should be communicated to others and which
communicated the decision of the thought processes of
logical-rational
Ethics is important for good communication processes take
place in accordance with the standards of good value too
Aesthetics communication regarding the composition
containing the value of a beautiful feeling, and harmony (the
form and the content / meaning of communication)
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A.

III. School of Communication Philosophy

School of Chicago (appearing in the U.S.)
The study of communication is mostly done with
quantitative methods since funded the sponsor. The
study, originally the creative activity of individuals into
collective
Many studies of communication in order to persuasion,
propaganda and direct effect of media on public
This school is aware, has the power of communications
media affect society. Therefore the media needs to
refine the program, preparing, presenting, for the more
efficient deployment
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B. Frankfurt School (Appearing in German)

Also called Critical Theory of Max Horkheimer and updated by
Jurgen Habermas
The themes of this school: post liberal, form of community
integration, socialization and individual development, mass media
and mass culture, social psychology, art theory, and criticism of
positivism
Habermas says science is not value free
School is suspicious of the project of enlightenment (aufklaerung)
as the main culprit emergence positivistic
Till the 1980s Habermas believes that criticism can only be
developed on the basis of communicative ratio is understood as a
praxis of communication / communicative action

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 Habermas allow up to 4 claims to objectivity:

The natural world / we achieve the objective truth
claims
Social world and the norms we claim accuracy
Correspondence between the inner and the
expression of a person we claim to authenticity or
honesty

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 If we can explain the various claims upon it and reach an

agreement we reached claim Comprehensibility
Any effective communication must reach the claim of the
4th and people who are able to communicate (to produce
those claims) have called communicative competence.
Community communicative rather than people who do the
critics through violent revolution, but criticized by using
rational arguments
Two forms of argument are: conversations (discourse) and
criticism. Both forms of this argument is to bring people
towards communicative society (including criticize social
reality and mass media)

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