COMMUNICATION ETHICS
The course programme contributes to achieving the learning objectives of the degree programme, for it focuses on the concept of communication and on the possibility of understanding its meaning, and adding value to its content, through philosophical analysis.
The development of specific skills will be encouraged to this end:
-Knowledge and comprehension skills
The course aims at providing students with the knowledge of the content and vocabulary of communication ethics, taking into account its relationship with various branches of applied ethics;
-Critical thinking
The teaching aims at encouraging the ability to judge autonomously when searching for and analysing meanings, or when collecting and organizing complex cultural data pertaining to wider frameworks;
-Communication skills
The course aims at developing individual communication skills, both written and oral, throughout the presentation of the results of individual study and research; to this end, the use of computer tools will be encouraged.
The course programme centres on the contents of communication ethics, one of the branches of applied ethics. It considers the contexts in which disciplining public communication is essential to the well being of society and the values that should be at the basis of this discipline. The role of communication as a social activity and the importance of an inclusive communicative praxis, respectful of differences, will also be highlighted. The course will likewise consider the close relationship between war and mass media that has emerged since the second world war, in order to clarify its meaning and consequences in the light of the principles of communication ethics.
Part I: Introduction to the principles of communication ethics and its contents. The space of communication: time, sociality and the object of communication. Communication and ethical principles in information and persuasion. Inclusiveness and communicative skills.
Part II: War and mass media. The deep change in war communication since the World war I.
Clifford G. Christians, Mark Fackler, "Media Ethics. Cases and Moral Reasoning", Routledge, 2022;
Josef Seethaler, Matthias Karmasin, Gabriele Melischek, and Romy Wöhlert, "War: The Role of the Mass Media in Hostile Conflicts from World War I to the "War on Terror", University of Chicago Press 2013.
Further readings
Rasmus Kleis Nelsen, "Ground Wars: Personalized Communication in Political Campains", Princeton U.P. 2012.
Frontal lessons, lectures and talks by experts of the area, teamwork.
The course programme is divided into two parts.
The first part (4 CFU) focuses on the origin of racism in Europe in the eighteenth century and on its cultural, social and political roots. Some passages in Mosse's book " Towards the final solution" will be read and commented. The second part (2 CFU) centres on a different reading of racism, based on cultural diversity. The reading of some passages from Levi Strauss's book will conclude this part.
The syllabus and reading list are the same for non-attending students, with the addition of the text recommended for further reading (or part of it).
Office hours: Wednesday, 12-14; Tutorial hours (for English speaking students),13-14.
Email: giulianadibiase@unich.it
An email appointment is required.