In "Public Judgment", author Gerard Hauser continuously mentions the public. Public problems, public consciousness, public opinions, public spheres, and even the title "Public Judgement" revolve around the public. Then there is Publics Theory which is used to help understand and critique rhetorical characteristics of public problems shape the publics form around them and the opinions they form.
WAIT... what's the difference between the public and publics?
The public would be the general population. It includes all citizens. The public does not have to involve themselves in politics, problems, discussions, etc. They simply exist, according to Hauser.
Publics, on the other hand, are ACTIVE. They are active in the community, in politics, in problems that are going to affect themselves and the people and community around them. Hauser also writes that publics EMERGE. They do not focus on one problem but on many, and they attempt to asses and help with the issues that arise. Being a part of a public also means one must have RHETORICAL COMPETENCE. Hauser believes that a close minded public would not be able to do its job completely. He lists that publics have to have characteristics like: receptivity, critical listening, OPEN-MINDEDNESS, inclusivity, and inventional skill. Those in publics must also be contingent thinkers.
The public is just the citizens while pubilcs are citizens in groups fighting to solve problems to benefit others.
