Propaganda and the Ethics of Persuasion

Susan McKnight is an administrator of the Courts Technology Integrated Justice Project at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

Randal Marlin teaches philosophy at Carleton University and he has been
researching the philosophical issues surrounding propaganda since the
1970s. He begins his book with the answer to the question “Why study
propaganda?”: “If one studies and understands the different forms of
propaganda, one is less likely to be deceived or persuaded to do, think
or purchase something without proper understanding.” He offers
detailed explanations of the three types of propaganda—negative,
neutral, and favorable—and introduces the reader to the opinions of
George Orwell and Jacques Ellul, from whom he derives the basics of his
personal position.

A well-documented history of propaganda from ancient Athens and Rome to
the present day provides the base for the rest of the book. Marlin
describes various propaganda techniques, including those using language
manipulation and those using nonverbal techniques. The topic of ethics
is covered from St. Augustine to David Nyberg, with clear examples of
both the positive and negative uses of propaganda.

The weakest section of the book, Chapter 5, “Advertising and Public
Relations,” comes across as a personal vendetta against advertisers,
compromising the impartiality that flows through the rest of the text.
Chapter 6 is devoted to freedom of expression and the historical and
ethical dilemmas created through the exercise of this right. The book
concludes with an examination of political propaganda and the question
of controls.

This detailed, well-planned book will be an extremely useful resource
for student. Each chapter is organized into sections, making it easy to
refer to specific topics, and each chapter ends with a short conclusion
and footnotes. Marlin writes in plain language, making this volume
accessible to anyone interested in this important topic.