POSITIVISM Session 4Course : O0242/Philosophy and Ethics Communication Year: November 2013

I. Introduction

Positivism paradigm defines communication as a linear process or causality (cause and effect), which reflects the message sender (communicator / encoder) to transform knowledge (attitudes, or behavior) message recipients (communicant / decoder)

Channel

Bina Nusantara University*SourceMessagesReceiver

II. The History of PositivismPositivism coined by French thinkers, Henry Sain Simon (1760-1825) and his student of Auguste Comte (1798-1857)Henry is the main initiators and developers Comte and Positivism is a successor, which is known as the three phase of development of human history, theological-metaphysical-positivist Bina Nusantara University*

III. Positivism IdeasPositive means: based on objective facts, tangible, definite, precise, useful, absolutely correct.

The basic principle of positivism which prevoir pour savoir pour prevoir, prevoir pour pouvoir (science led to the prediction, and prediction led to action) is the result of assumptions applied natural sciencesso the knowledge of a community can be used to predict and control the futureBina Nusantara University*

Positivism is a school of philosophy of science that is based on the beliefs or basic assumptions:Ontology: realism outer universe driven by natural laws mechanically in law (axiom) "if ... then ..." (causality)Epistemology: Dualism Describe the universe as it is without involvement of the subjective values of researchersMethodology: experimental The hypothesis formulated earlier in the form of propositions which are then faced with the verification or falsification under circumstances completely controlled Bina Nusantara University*

Methodological norms of positivism, as followsall knowledge must be proven through systematic observation that assured in inter-subjectivevalidity of scientific knowledge is guaranteed by the unitary methodThe precision of our knowledge is guaranteed only by building theories are deductions from hypothesesScientific knowledge should be used technicallyOur knowledge is in principle not been completed and is relativeBina Nusantara University*

IV. Logical Positivism

Logical positivism is another paradigm derived from the paradigm of positivism

Logical positivism believe our knowledge of the world only made possible by languageBina Nusantara University*

Four basic principles of Logical Positivism:Rejecting the distinction between natural sciences and social sciencesAssume statements can not be verified empirically (such as ethics, aesthetics, religion, metaphysics) as a non senseTry to unify all knowledge in a universal scientific languagePhilosophy as a means to analyze the words and statements

Bina Nusantara University*

Finally, one of the main principles in Logical Positivism: ...a statement means if and only if it can be proved analytically or empirically ... If something can not be seen or measured, then it does not mean anything, and should not be discussed."Bina Nusantara University*