The media in the face of truth: speaking, listening, and conversion

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/sce.02104

Keywords:

truth in the media, oneness of truth, true speech, listening to truth, media conversion, social communication

Abstract

The article reflects on truth as a fundamental criterion for the functioning of the mass media. In the face of contemporary fascination with pluralism and fragmentariness, the oneness of truth is recalled, which has the power to integrate dispersed collectivities. The text distinguishes between “true speech” (language that does not falsify reality) and “spoken truth” (disclosure of truth in the communication space). It also points out the necessity of active and wise listening to truth, engaging the whole person and protecting against manipulation and illusions. The ultimate goal of the recipient’s interaction with the media should be conversion (metanoia) to truth, consisting of abandoning untruths and building the ability to distinguish between good and evil. A complete turn towards truth constitutes a media conversion, protecting human dignity and guaranteeing true freedom.

References

Benedict XVI (2008). Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the 42nd World Communications Day. The media: At the crossroads between self-promotion and service. Searching for the truth in order to share it with others. Vatican.

Bergson, H. (1911). Creative evolution (A. Mitchell, Trans). Holt. Dictionary Cambridge. (n.d.). https://dictionary.cambridge.org (access: 24.06.2024).

Fadiga, L. & Craighero, L. (2006). Hand actions and speech representation in Broca’s area. Cortex. A Journal devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior, 42, 4, 486–490.

Gentilucci, M., Bernardis, P., Crisi, G., & Dalla Volta, R. (2006). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of Broca’s area affects verbal responses to gesture observation. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18, 7, 1059–1074.

Grzenia, J. (2008). Komunikacja językowa w Internecie. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.

Heschel, A. (1951). Man is not alone. A philosophy of religion. Farrar, Straus & Young.

Husserl, E. (1970). Logical investigations (J.N. Findlay, Trans). Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd.

John Paul II (1979). Redemptor hominis. Vatican.

John Paul II (1993). Veritatis splendor. Vatican.

Jougan, A. (1957). Słownik kościelny łacińsko-polski, 3rd edition. Księgarnia św. Wojciecha.

Kolakowski, L. et al. (1991). Modernity on endless trial. Chicago University Press.

Krąpiec, A. M. (1974). Ja-człowiek. Zarys antropologii filozoficznej. Wydawnictwo KUL.

Macdonald, D. (1958). A theory of mass culture. In L. Fiedler (Ed.), The art of the essay (pp. 263–278). Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

Maimonides (1885). The guide of the perplexed (M. Friedländer, Trans). Trübner & Co.

McKenna, K.Y.A. (2008). MySpace or your place: Relationship initiation and development in the wired and wireless world. In S. Sprecher, A. Wenzel, & J.

Harvey (Eds.), Handbook of relationship initiation (pp. 235–248). Routledge.

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media: Extensions of man. McGraw Hill Book Company.

Morin, E. (2005). Masowy odbiorca. In M. Hopfinger (Ed.). Nowe media w komunikacji społecznej w XX wieku (pp. 573–582). Oficyna Naukowa.

New revised standard version — Catholic edition. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Revised-Standard-Version-Catholic-Edition-NRSVCE-Bible (access: 21.06.2024).

Plato (2010). Protagoras (J.A. Arieti, & R.M. Barru, Trans., Eds.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

PWN (n.d.). Dowiadywać się. In Słownik synonimów. https://sjp.pwn.pl/slownik-synonimow/dowiadywa%C4%87%20si%C4%99.html (access: 29.02.2024).

PWN (n.d.). Dowiedzieć się. In Słownik języka polskiego. https://sjp.pwn.pl/sjp/dowiedzie%C4%87-si%C4%99;2453851.html (access: 29.02.2024).

PWN (n.d.). Parezja. In Słownik języka polskiego. https://sjp.pwn.pl/slowniki/parezja.html (access: 29.02.2024).

Szalkowska, A. (2009). Mowa. In E. Giglewicz et al. (Eds.), Encyklopedia katolicka, Vol. 13 (pp. 371–375). Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu

Lubelskiego Jana Pawła II.

Tischner, J. (2009). Wiara ze słuchania. Kazania starosądeckie 1980–1992 (W. Bonowicz, Ed.). Znak.

Tischner, J. (2011). Myślenie według wartości. Znak.

Webster, D.B. (1994). An overview of mammalian auditory pathways with an emphasis on humans. In D.B. Webster, A.N. Popper, & R.R. Fay (Eds.), The Mammalian Auditory Pathway: Neuroanatomy. Vol. 1 (pp. 1–22). Springer-Verlag.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Section

Articles