A Study Of Walter Lipsman 's Public Opinion

Public opinion plays a very significant role in political life and social development. Nowadays, with the development of science and technology, it provides various types of communication. Public opinion has penetrated into our daily life. But public opinion is a double-edged sword, it can arouse the public’s enthusiasm of political participation, but once it is used, the consequences be unbearable to contemplate. The thought of public opinion is formed in the 18th century, but public opinion firstly appears in Plato and Aristotle’s period. At that time, it is called "the opinion". To the period of enlightenment, public opinion is the most close to the essential characteristics of public opinion, there is a close connection with the rationalism. From the enlightenment to Lippmann’s period, public opinion takes a deep turning, he pays more attention to the importance of the media, especially Lippmann proposes two concepts of "pseudo environment" and "stereotype". Lippmann effectively organizes a series of unavoidable problems in the research of public opinion, probes into the issues of bias, interest, public will and democratic image, describes all the internal and external mechanisms of the phenomenon of public opinion.Walter Lippmann is the famous columnist and politician of America in 20th century, he has given advice and suggestions directly or indirectly for 20 American president. From 1913, he entered on the field of news until his death, he left tens of thousands of column, and published more than 30 books, he influenced several generations of American’s the mode of thinking, he has also won the Pulitzer prize twice. Lippmann’s writings are most closely connected with political life of America. He combines his experience and elaborates original rational thinking of democracy. It is not only to help the general public dialyze the complex political phenomenon, also influence the political decision makers, then have a certain impact on domestic and foreign affairs of America.The main content of this paper is divided into four parts. The first part is about Lippmann’s growing background and learning experience. Lippmann’s philosophy is formed while studying at the Harvard University, it has a close relationship with his mentor. George Santayana and William James has a far-reaching influence on Lippmann’s philosophy. Santayana makes materialism, Plato’s realism, idealism and created a "critical realism" philosophy. He advocates "transcendental attitude" to deal with all things of the world. Lippmann’s life has always been to "outsiders" philosophy to treat things. In the view of social history, Lippmann and James have a lot in common. Politicians must be good at using the logic of thinking, and be good at thinking in images, he conquers the reader by the power of logic in the political. Lippmann stresses on the use of language, we should learn from the novelist. Pundits should start from the whole class and national interests, think something and expound their views, according to the facts to generate ideas, they must not be imaged and comment on points by feeling. The second part is analyzing Lippmann’s thought of Public Opinion profoundly. It analyzes from two main line. One is taking the media as the main line, it tells about the effect of "pseudo environment". And another one is taking the public as the main line, it tells about the effect of "stereotype". Through the analysis of public opinion principle, we can get that Lippmann doubts the ability of the public, he stresses the elite state. It brings forth conclusion, public opinion is irrational.The third part is that it based on the analysis of Lippmann’s thought of public opinion, making Lippmann’s opinion view compared with several famous thinkers’ points, it can help readers understand the concept and the role of public opinion in different period. The fourth part is that Lippmann’s thoughts has important influence on Chinese contemporary political life, has a promotion effect on citizen’s orderly political participation, has a profound impact on Chinese diplomatic decision, under the network, public opinion pays attention to the importance ideas of the media, and now there are many ways to spread Chinese politics. To arouse the enthusiasm of the public political participation, and keep political participation’s order, we must do it.