Communication and Libertarianism

This book presents a comprehensive foundation for legal and political theory of communication, based on fundamental ethical propositions and an understanding of the nature of communicative actions. The questions that the book endeavours to address are particularly important within the context of increasing government interest in communication and ongoing attempts at intervention and regulation of the communication sphere, particularly the Internet. Further understanding of ethical foundations as well as a theoretical framework for the application of political power to communication is required to enable a proper scientific evaluation and justification of various actions and initiatives. The methodology underpinning this work is based on the praxeological approach so as to deduce analytical conclusions a priori theoretical truths. Praxeology rests on the fundamental axiom that individual human beings act, that is, on the primordial fact that individuals engage in conscious actions toward chosen goals. In this book, the principles of praxeology are applied to examining communication phenomena, organising the logic of the process in the framework of ends (purposes) and means (things utilised toward purposes). This book will be of interest to communication theorists, political science scholars and philosophers with a particular interest in libertarianism.