“问题”和“问题化”:传播理论实用主义传统的演化及反思

Problematique and Problematization: Tracing and Critiquing the Path of Pragmatist Tradition in Communication Theories

实用主义作为一种应对"理论与实践相互断裂"问题的方法,是一种"问题化"思维,认为应该根据理论所针对的"问题"和理论被采纳的后果来评价理论的价值。实用主义哲学作为一个鲜明的传统对传播理论的发展影响深巨,其过去100多年来的演化历程需要梳理和反思。不难发现,从威廉·詹姆斯开始,芝加哥学派、凯瑞、彼得斯和克雷格都是带着"问题"提出了自己的传播理论,从而形成了传播学的主要理论资源。然而,由于实用主义弥漫深广,版本众多,且容易与功利主义相混,加上其对何为"问题"规定不清,因此显得"可有可无"。我们认为,实用主义哲学对中国(华夏)传播研究的元理论创新具有重要启示,即要在"传播是什么?""传播何以必须?"和"传播如何可能?"这三个问题上给出不同于西方传播理论的回答,以有助于中国(华夏)传播思想与西方传播理论的对话。

Since the first decades of the 21 st century,American pragmatism has been revived as a distinct tradition in communication theories.But from its 19 th century inception in New England,pragmatism has pervaded communication theories deeply and widely.The paper,after briefly presenting the origin and precepts of pragmatism,uses William James,the Chicago School,James Carey,John Peters and R.T.Craig as examples to delineate the contour of pragmatist influence and its emphasis on theories’problematique and problematization.The author points out,researchers of Chinese idea of communication need to problematize"communication"along three meta-problematiques——what’s communication,why is it necessary,and how is it possible?——and provide answers that are unique to China’s context,so as to dialogue with Western communication theories.