PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE CONCEPT OF «POLITICAL PROPAGANDA»: BETWEEN POSITIVISM AND PSYCHOANALYSIS

Abstract

A comparison of two main contemporary philosophical approaches to the analysis of “political propaganda” is conducted: positivist and psychoanalytic. The positivist approach, based on the idea of objectivity and observability of phenomena, analyzes political propaganda using empirical methods and statistical data. It seeks to identify patterns and trends in the dissemination and impact of propaganda messages on mass consciousness. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach focuses on the unconscious and emotional aspects of political propaganda. It views propaganda techniques as means of subconscious manipulation and psychological control, paying attention to the symbolic and subjective aspects of political communication.
The article analyzes the basic principles of each approach, their theoretical foundations, and methodological tools. Examples from history and contemporary times are provided to illustrate the application of these approaches to the analysis of political propaganda. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are discussed, as well as their potential for understanding the nature and impact of political propaganda in modern society.
Differences between positivist and psychoanalytic approaches to understanding political propaganda from other contemporary philosophical schools are identified. For instance, from an existentialist perspective, propaganda can be perceived as an attempt to manipulate individual meaning and values, creating an illusion of choice and freedom. Meanwhile, philosophical schools such as Marxism, feminism, and postmodernism also make significant contributions to understanding political propaganda. For example, Marxist analysis reveals the economic and class aspects of propagandistic messages, while the feminist perspective draws attention to gender aspects of manipulating societal consciousness.