Theory of communication: four approaches

Abstract

How to theorize communication in social sciences? This text has two goals. First, to rely on the work of Louis Quéré, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the two dominant models of two dominant models: an epistemological model enrolling the theory of information and cybernetics in an instrumental aim; a political model that aims at inter-understanding at the service of self-determination of the citizens in the elaboration of norms that govern them. Moreover, we wish to add to this review, two models which go beyond the limits of the first two approaches: a praxeological model that relies on praxis as an organizing activity of shared perspectives; a model of incommunication that reverses the situation and makes the impossibility of achieving intercomprehension the norm.

Keywords

• theoretical study
• communication
• epistemology