The origins and importance of public opinion in the philosophy of Jürgen Habermas

Abstract

In the Jürgen Habermas’s works there is in general a thematization that involves communicative rationality, a key element for a dialogical communication that aims at the understanding and consensus among the subjects. This article discusses the concept of public opinion, in the philosophy of Jürgen Habermas, which appears since his first work, Structural Change of the Public Sphere, in 1962, and continues to be present in later works, mainly in Between Facts and Norms, in 1992. Public opinion is the normative basis for political procedures in democratic countries. There are controversies regarding its authenticity due to the interests that it may be representing, whether public or private, and its possible manipulation by the media. Public opinion is formed in the discursive, argumentative process, which may be polluted by particular interests, which do not aim at the common good, its authentic purpose. This article also presents other controversial aspects around the concept of public opinion, in contemporary times, considering access to new media technologies and anonymous participation.