PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS ON COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL

Paul Ogbonna Chukwu

Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Abstract

The study of communication and media has undergone profound transformations with the ascent of digital technologies, necessitating renewed philosophical inquiry. This paper critically appraises contemporary communication and media studies through philosophical lenses, focusing on epistemological, ethical, and ontological concerns. It integrates Luciano Floridi’s concept of the infosphere, highlighting the evolving informational environment shaped by digital media. Utilizing a multidisciplinary method, the analysis draws on hermeneutics, phenomenology, and critical theory to examine the implications of media technologies on human understanding, social relations, and identity construction. Results reveal a tension between media as tools of empowerment and manipulation, raising questions about authenticity, agency, and the role of information ethics. The paper concludes by advocating a philosophically informed media literacy that embraces the complexities of the infosphere and promotes critical engagement. By integrating classical philosophical insights with contemporary media theory and digital ethics, this study provides a distinctive and forward-looking framework for advancing interdisciplinary scholarship.

Keywords: Epistemology, Ontology, Digital Ethics, Hermeneutics, Information Society.