THE PARADOXICAL UNITY OF THE EUROPEAN CULTURE: THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE COMMON VALUES AND THE DIVERSITY OF EXPRESSIONS
Abstract: As it is well known, Europe is not only a real entity, it is also an imaginary one. All the difficulties in European activities show that the political Europe cannot exist when intellectuals, artists, creators, in one word those who contribute to outlining the collective imaginary, cannot make up a common, strong, stimulating dream, which should be the pedestal for a real identity and a European culture.
COMMUNICATION AS POLITICAL DISCOURSE: PERSUASIVE MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES
Abstract: The present paper analyses communication as a political discourse. This might be said to have been carefully chosen, thus deducing the association of ideas that the receptor is likely to operate, respectively the two categories of public to whom they are addressed. The language of discourses make use of the images that words evoke and which are based on stereotypes the audience has assimilated along the time, while the word itself is carefully sought in order to emphasize the message. A common expression of a trivial truth “the power of words” seems to be a truism. Words are endowed with the attribute of expressing both sides, good and bad, but they might prove to be a real element in constructing relations or might destroy the role of language by annihilating its power. Therefore, both facets should be taken into consideration and studied in such a manner that the audience to be aware of the effects they exert.
Keywords: communicational act, message, political language, manipulation
THE MYTH OF THE FRAMEWORK AND THE MYSTERIES OF THE INTELLECT – ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Abstract: Starting from the definition of myth and also of framework given by Karl Popper and having as landmarks a number of myths and philosophical frameworks of a historical-political nature, we will try to put into evidence a series of aspects related to the mechanisms of formation and functioning of the moral judgement, as the reasoning which lies at the basis of the human thinking and action. And when ascertaining this, we have as reference the myth of the cave, Socrates’ trial, Philip Zimbardo’s experiment and the framework of the political detention. The myth implies a system of working similar to the mechanism of parables, which means that it imposes the perception and understanding of the medium of the genesis of the world, where it is “created” as an idea or as a form of truth manifestation.What differentiates between the myth of the framework and the mythological framework is the judgement criterion of the content, of the nature of the problem. But, this judgement criterion brings into discussion various ethical perspectives, which reveal mysteries of the intellect, that is, those of the thinking mechanisms and of the human action.
Keywords: the myth of the framework, intellect, knowledge, understanding, moral judgement, Karl Popper, Philip Zimbardo
ETHICAL ISSUES AND INTERNET
Abstract: We live in a world of increasing communications that simplify our lives but also create new forms of dependence. In this new world of communications, it is important to reflect upon the accompanying ethical issues that concern individuals and societies. Firstly, the new society is created by the new forms of communication. Secondly, one of the most revolutionary means of communication of the last decades is the Internet. Thirdly, there are certain main ethical principles that should guide our reflections. Finally, there are some important special issues that should be seen in an ethical perspective.
Keywords: virtual world, the new media, globalization, Internet, ethical principles, special ethical issues
PERSONALIZATION OF MESSAGE: THE DANGER OF DISINFORMATION
Abstract: The post-modern audience is looking for its identity in front of the small screen, and identity becomes a common factor for those who watch the same audio-visual products. Thus, media has the power to create the social identity. The person of present days is the victim of stress, of a busy and strained life and that is why he tries to find relaxation, entertainment to forget his daily worries for a couple of hours. Television takes great advantage of this and offers its public the entertainment it requires. But, behind these things there are hidden the real intentions of those who guide and impose constraints by means of mass media: manipulation and misinformation.
THE COMMUNICATION CONTRACT AND THE RITUALS OF TELEVISED DEBATES
Abstract: All acts of communication are achieved in a given situation and the partners involved in this situation, do not exist as participants unless they are part of the characteristics determined by this situation. Patrick Charaudeau thinks that it would be an illusion to imagine that the individuals who speak, converse or discuss do this individually, according to their personality or their will. “To communicate it is not enough to open the mouth and to utter sounds – both articulated observing the rules of building discourse. We must have the quality of a speaking subject. And to achieve this, there must be another participant in the discussion, who has the intention, the purpose and the appropriate way to express himself in a certain situation. “Communication basically consists in evaluating the dialogue partner in a given situation, which makes all our acts of communication to interact and contract. It is defined by interaction because there is a meeting point of emissionproduction and reception processes – interpretation that builds the social significance.
Keywords: televised debate, communication, dialogue, contract.
EXPLAINING AND UNDERSTANDING IN SCIENCE – PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES
Abstract: Scientific explanation was a major topic in philosophy of science meanwhile the subject of scientific understanding got little attention. For a long period the last one was considered to be subsumable under an approach on explanation. Recent developments are challenging this view. After presenting the evolution of the relation between the two subjects I will discuss the recent approaches on understanding and some critical reactions they triggered. I will take sides by defending the value and novelty of the recent investigations on the topic of scientific understanding.
Keywords: scientific explanation, scientific understanding, explanation with and without understanding
THE LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING IN THE ROMANIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM: A SIMPLE COMMUNICATION PROBLEM?
Abstract: Critical thinking helps to formulate the right questions to evaluate responses to formulate value judgments about the credibility of sources and information and to formulate your own value judgments based on evidence.
Although continuously reformed over the past 20 years, the Romanian higher education has not yet internalized study subjects to ensure the development of critical thinking. Students still do not realize that must ask themselves: Why? and formulate value judgments considering the consequences of their statements or actions. Although theoretically academics know that a modern educational system synthesizes the earlier stages of learning, knowledge and generates prospective relationships transferred in the future in an attempt to understand the needs of human nature, to look beyond known landmarks and find new steps of waiting, basically they are limited to the present the evolutionary precepts and principles of education modernization without adding practical component to effectively develop skills designed to continue the evolution of human civilization. The lack of awareness of the need to shape a critical thinking could it be only a matter of communication? How can teachers and decision makers of Romanian higher education debate the issue of critical thinking and to reach reliable conclusions, without the results to be evident in practice and students to stick to the retrieved value judgments and avoid their own efforts of detection, corroboration and interpretation of data?
Keywords: formative, informative, effective training, development and critical thinking.
YOU MUST SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT NOT WITH US: THE CASE OF THE ROMANIAN NATIONAL EXAM
Abstract: The paper aims to explore some of the problems of the latest assessment strategy in the Romanian Baccalaureate exam in English as a Foreign Language. It suggests that the current format of examination does not justify the use of level descriptors recently introduced in the assessment methodology, and that it does not focus on communication. As a result of the backwash effect, English teaching and exam training prior to the Baccalaureate often results in the learners becoming decontextualized solo performers rather than good communicators.
Keywords: communication, communicator, education, TEFL, national exam
CHARACTER ANALYSIS METHOD
Abstract: The paper proposes a method with two points of view, description and interpretation, for understanding the character. Reader has an important role in re-construction the image of the character. The markers helping him/her to discover the meaning of the character are called needs. There are simple needs and complex needs/supra-needs.
Keywords: character, speech level, predicates, sequence, sentence
THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON INTERPERSONAL AND CROSS-COMMUNITARIAN COMMUNICATION
Abstract: Globalization contributes most to increasing speed, volume and number of participants to information transfer between people, as well as between communities. The process of globalization produces many benefits for mankind but also some unintended and undesired negative effects like economic crises, unemployment, poverty, pollution and even disrupting social cohesion and communities. Due to information era and globalization people and communities can communicate to each other almost without restrictions everywhere from anywhere, using personal computers, cell phones, iPads, iPhones and some other type of electronic devices. Everybody can benefit from globalization if well prepared. So, as any other economic process, globalization cannot have winners only. Free market could be the new and most important battlefield for future wars.
Keywords: globalization, information, communication process, international relations, social conflicts.
COMMUNICATION
Abstract: Communication occurs every time a living body is able to affect another body and modifies their structure or activity by sending tem a piece of information (not by means of a direct action, as in the case of physical strength which generates some form of energy).
The theory of communication has undergone multiple changes along history, since the ancient Greeks up to the transactional analysis, the neuro-linguistic programming or the techniques of Palo Alto School
“NO MAN IS AN ISLAND“ – COMMUNICATION NOT ISOLATION
Abstract: We live in an age of instant and incessant contact yet this can come at the cost of real human communication. Contact perhaps is more about informing someone about something impersonally, whereas communication suggests engaging someone about something personally. Communication essentially involves listening to, not just talking at, someone.
