released 8/22/2025

John Durham Peters discusses the history of the idea of communication, arguing that humans have often set their hopes too high when we believe that the solution to social discord is just better communication. His book Speaking Into the Air: A History of the Idea of Communication (1999) traces “communication theory from Plato to radio.” With each new advance in communication technology, Peters says that people have expressed or entertained utopian dreams of universal peace and connectivity. The reality is much more difficult and nuanced. An older, wiser, and richer use of language must be recovered, Peters says, one that acknowledges the inherent mystery in other people, the possibility of human corruptibility, and a persuasive use of language that is not mere manipulation but is based on relationships. A portion of this interview was originally featured on Volume 47 of the Journal.

49 minutes

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