180033 SE Arbeit am Bild - Ausgewählte Texte (2016W)

The concept of the public sphere plays an important role in many theories of political philosophy. What is understood by the public (sphere), however, varies among philosophers. This seminar provides an introduction into the different theories of the public sphere in the 20th century: Which role does the public play (and should it play) in the democratic process? Starting point of the discussion in Jürgen Habermas' "Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere" (1962). His own revisions in his later works as well as the different alternativ approaches to the political public sphere (Hannah Arendt, John Dewey, Chantal Mouffe) should indicate the functions of the concept within the political architecture as well as its dependence from social, economical and medial conditions. This will also help to clarify, which role the concept of the public can play in the contect of political theory.