public sphere
Arena of debate
The public sphere is the realm of social life where citizens come together to discuss matters of common concern—politics, culture, shared problems.
It exists in newspapers, town halls, online forums, anywhere people engage in open debate about collective issues.
The term implies a space distinct from private life and from government, where public opinion forms.
Social media has transformed the public sphere.
Formal argument on issues
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
rhetoric · persuasion · civic discourse · free expression · dissent · consensus · commentary · op-ed
Status as state member
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- votingFormally registering a choice
- electorateEligible voting body
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
constitution · governance · representation · civic participation · referendum · pluralism · civil liberties · accountability
News gathering and dissemination
- pressApply force downward
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- newsReports of recent events
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
opinion column · social media · radio · television · podcast · newspaper · reporter · correspondent
Nongovernmental organized citizenry
- communityCollective of connected people
- commonsShared community resources
- collectiveJointly organized group
- social fabricInterconnected relationships in society
civic life · agora · plaza · gathering place · shared space · accessibility · openness · inclusivity
debate
Formal argument on issues
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
argumentation · rhetoric · persuasion · civic discourse · free expression · dissent · consensus · commentary · op-ed · polemic
citizenship
Status as state member
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- votingFormally registering a choice
- electorateEligible voting body
parliament · constitution · governance · representation · civic participation · referendum · pluralism · civil liberties · accountability · transparency
journalism
News gathering and dissemination
editorial · opinion column · social media · radio · television · podcast · newspaper · reporter · correspondent · pundit
civil society
Nongovernmental organized citizenry
- communityCollective of connected people
- commonsShared community resources
- collectiveJointly organized group
social fabric · civic life · agora · plaza · gathering place · shared space · accessibility · openness · inclusivity · communal life
- public lifeopenness, transparency, visibility, disclosure, accountability
- enlightenmentVoltaire, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Montesquieu
- German PhilosophyKant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Heidegger
- German EnlightenmentImmanuel Kant, Kant, Mendelssohn, Wolff, Leibniz
- mediatelevision, mass media, news, broadcasting, video
- existenceexistence, being, lives, reality, life
public sphereprivate sphere
Individual's protected domain
private life · domestic sphere · personal life · home life · family life
public sphereprivate sector
Economy outside government control
private enterprise · marketplace · market economy · civil society
public, policy, sphere, atmosphere, republic, publication, political, politician, publishing