Theory and Method for Media Technology

Theme 1: Research publications/Theory of science

Media is the common name of types of mass media communication. Media technology is divided into different components. Visual media is printing, photography, computer graphics. Audio media (sound) is a sound recording and radio. Cinema, television, video, Internet are the elements of audio-visual media. Such possibilities of media as mass- and informative character, fast response to events are positive. Media education is a process of personal development by means and in terms of the mass media. It helps to develop the human creative and communicative abilities, critical thinking, and various forms of self-expression with the help of media. Media education is becoming universal. Environment which has been formed by computerization and mass-media, penetrates into all spheres of human activity. Media has over time dramatically expanded the capabilities of human perception, creating a new communication space and new languages. In the modern information media distributes various information. Philosophy can teach a person to perceive critically and logically this information. Application of philosophy is just needed in the process of understanding the different flows of information. Ideas and knowledge of philosophy can actively use the information field of television, radio, video, cinema, press and Internet. Then people will be able to consciously evaluate the messages, maintain a critical distance from the popular culture and resist manipulation. At present, the global entertainment culture unites all people in the world, creating a mass culture. Everything else is just sub-cultures in relation to it. Media are the main means of globalization trends. Cultural interaction occurs in the media field. It is therefore important to use the ideas of critical thinking and perception of the facts in the obtained information. The idea for search of truth is inherent in philosophy as a science. Philosophy can liberate the thinking mind which is ruled by custom of tyranny and dogmatism, and it shows the familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect. Knowledge can change the material society for the knowledge society. The human being should be a contemplator and not withdraw into himself and his equals. Philosophy is meant to change the life of those who study it.

1.   What does Russell mean by "sense data" and why does he introduce this notion?

By the notion of "sense data" Bertrand Russel meant the human perception of the world and personal experience with the help of senses (consider acquaintance). We feel the various things around us and get familiar with them by using the sense of sight, sense of touch, sense of hearing, sense of taste and sense of smell. The five senses give us the first and most compelling data and understanding of physical objects. For each person this is a personal experience. The perception of the same physical object may vary for different people. This information and this idea are not subjects to criticism for a person and are absolutely true to him. There are other ways of perceiving the world of objects by means of intuition, logic and psychology. These ways of perceiving are criticized and cannot be considered as absolute. There is always a bit of doubt and a chance of error in their perception. People trust morein the data they receive by means of "sense data", which they compare with that obtained by other means, to determine their validity.

2. What is the meaning of the terms "proposition" and "statement of fact"? How does propositions and statement of facts differ from other kinds of verbal expressions?

The notion of "proposition" and "statement of fact" are coupled with a priori judgments. A proposition is a statement like two plus two equals four. Here we can see the relationship between the two universalis, namely two and four. All the a priori knowledges are shared between universalis. The relationship between the universalis describes by means of two verbs as minimum. This also applies to the facts that are expressed by proposition. The belief is also a fact. It is a fact that shows that a person believes. We believe in this statement without putting it into question. It is the belief of the subject in the content of proposition without personal experience in relation between the objects of proposition. There is a belief that everything is exactly as it is presented in a proposition. The statement that this is the case as a "statement of fact". Therefore we get a new knowledge out of this judgment. We check the other facts of verbal expression by the means of our own knowledge obtained mainly from experience.

3. In chapter 5 ("Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description") Russell introduces the notion "definite description". What does this notion mean?

Knowledge of things through their description as the truth and as a source of knowledge. The things which we do not get to know about from our own experience and by means of "sense-data" are "knowledge by description". Knowledge by the truth and knowledge by sensations are basically familiar with the "sense-data". We get to know about the not physical objects with the help of "knowledge by description". "Descriptions phrases" can be divided into two types. The first type is "a so-and-so" and the second type is "the so-and-so" which is a "definite description". The object is responsible for a particular description, although we are not familiar with this object. The substance is assigned to a particular description. Russel uses "definite description" as "description", since it implies any form in the form of "the so-and-so". The subject has certain properties, but we do not know about it through "acquaintance". For example, we know about the man in the iron mask, but we do not know who he is. With the help of "knowledge by description" we can recognize someone from his description. Condition is an object constancy that describes the subject, when the time changes.

4. In chapter 13 ("Knowledge, Error and Probable Opinion") and in chapter 14 ("The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge") Russell attacks traditional problems in theory of knowledge (epistemology). What are the main points in Russell's presentation?

Russell proposed to integrate all the knowledge in the theory of knowledge gained through the senses or intuitively, and to integrate them into a system on the basis of their similarity. If knowledge based on the concept of faith in the perceived data is correct it will be the truth, or knowledge. If faith in anything is strong, but this anything is not true, then it is a mistake. If our beliefs are not true and are not a mistake, they are called the possible views. Their truth is determined by grading from a high to low degree. All knowledge is based on facts or on their own experience. Universalis link different subjects together. To obtain knowledge of things through feelings and emotions the whole truth of things is not needed, theory is enough. The fact that things have relationships does not mean that they are logically necessary; it is enough to take for granted that they exist. Logic provides more types of worlds than it is possible to know by experience. Experience chooses between the existing theories. Russell promoted the open world of possibilities, where there is a large selection of knowledge. Logic is a research tool. Philosophy analyses some knowledge of science to test it and leaves those that has passed this test. It reduces the number of errors in knowledge. The established knowledge can kill the universe, philosophy by means of meditation and contemplation can free the mind. Impartiality and pure desire for truth is justice in action.