The 19th-century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard was one of the earliest and most insightful critics of the phenomenon of mass communication. In his published works and private journals, he presents a detailed analysis of the dangers of the daily press—in particular, the way it fosters a culture of anonymity and conformity, eroding the foundations of meaning, truth, and moral responsibility. Kierkegaard predicted that the pervasive influence of mass media would lead to a kind of madness in society.
Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, explores the striking parallels between Kierkegaard’s analysis and present-day concerns about the effects of algorithm-driven social media and news culture. Emmanuel offers reflections on the value of Kierkegaard’s analysis for understanding and responding to the challenges of living in a media-saturated society and notes that while much of the modern conversation focuses on political implications—such as misinformation, polarization, and the erosion of democracy—Kierkegaard calls attention to the moral and spiritual dimensions of the problem, suggesting that the dangers may be even graver than we suspect.
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