On the Public (Thinking in Action)

Hannay, Alastair

ISBN 10: 0415327938 / ISBN 13: 9780415327930

Published by Routledge (edition First Edition), 2005

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting. Seller Inventory # 0415327938-11-1

Synopsis:

The 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.

About the Author:

Alastair Hannay is Emeritus Professor of philosophy at the University of Oslo. He is the author of many books, including Mental Images and Kierkegaard. He has translated several of Kierkegaard's works for Penguin Classics and was for many years the editor of the journal Inquiry, also published by Routledge.

Bibliographic Details

Title: On the Public (Thinking in Action)
Publisher: Routledge (edition First Edition)
Publication Date: 2005
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Very Good
Edition: First Edition.