The Realistic Significance Of The Debate Between John Dewey And Lippmann About The Public

The debate about public between Dewey and Lippmann in the 1920’s is a kind of conflict between traditional democracy and realistic democracy, idealism and realist criticism. Lippm ann thought that the public is unenlightened, and the public is very phantasmagoric for society. The person who can make decisions are only scholars and experts. But Dewey thought that i ndividuals in society can be positive publics and can make correct judgments for social affairs in uniform society, we can realize real democracy only when the publics also participate in th e social affairs. This argue between Dewey and Lippmann raised extensive attention in acade mia. Participatory democracy theory from Dewey has apocalyptic significants for the develop ments of citizen journalism.The coming of media age promotes the realization of Dewey’s democratic uniform societ y. Chapter one mainly explains the source of topics,research actuality,main research approach and innovation points. Chapter two make simple introduction about the life and ideas of two p rimary people in this paper, which can help us make a better comprehensive for their thought t ransformation process. Dewey had lots of contacts with news although he is a philosopher, the re are also a series of news activities which is Dewey participated in.Chapter three introduces the background and process about publics argue between Dewey and Lippmann, Lippmann created the concept about "insider" and "outsider", he think only the scholars and experts as insiders can make correct judgments to social affairs. But Dewey thought the only way to achieve democracy is publics wide participation. Dewey’s democracy theory is exactly the foundation of public journalism movement in the 1990’s. Chapter four mainly introduce how Dewey’s democracy ideal guide public journalism movement. The final chapter, we will analysis the controversy once again combine with current situation of fast development of media, media’s development make it possible to achieve Dewey’s participate democracy thought, and raise new requirements for pressman journalist refer to media situation, which is helpful to strength our country’s media public consciousness and shape citizens’ public mind to construct harmonious and heathy society.