From relational subjects to connective identities: Towards a philosophy of communication

This article endeavours to examine communication as a foundational phenomenon in the constitution of subjectivity, identity and relational and social dimensions. Communication is thus not conceived merely as a conversational dynamic or as the verbal articulation of pre-existing cognitive and emotional states independent of the communicative act itself. Rather, this work aspires to establish a philosophy of communication as a theoretical foundation for comprehending the construct of ‘communication’ and its concrete manifestations, especially within a society shaped by digitalization. This objective will be pursued through a dual approach: a historical–conceptual reconstruction of essential philosophical sources relevant to the definition of the communicative act and the delineation of an epistemological framework that allows for an in-depth comprehension of its nature. The distinction between a relational model, deeply intersubjective and a ‘connective’ model, emblematic of the digital era, constitutes a critical juncture for the development of any future philosophy of communication.