An Aristotelian analysis of war and conflict on social media

Abstract

This project provides an Aristotelian framework, using the concepts of mimesis and catharsis, kalon and character, and perfect friendship, to draw out why social media has the potential to better represent war and conflict than more traditional media such as television, radio, newspapers, etc. Media and journalism studies research about western media coverage of the Global War on Terror along with philosophical analyses of issues in media demonstrate the issues that social media has the potential to address. The potential benefit of social media is that it now allows users to participate in shaping how war and conflict is represented on the platform. Now that audiences have the ability to participate in and influence the representation of war and conflict on social media it is crucial that they have the capacity to do so responsibly which the Aristotlian concepts provide the foundation for the pathway to achieving this potential.