Abstract

Despite the thoughtfulness, sincerity, and energy that James Miller has put into his review of Habermas' Legitimation Crisis, the review seems so inadequate and full of misunderstandings that it calls for critique and clarification. There are several reasons why I want to respond to Miller's review. The first is that Legitimation Crisis is an important book, from which people concerned with capitalism and socialism might learn something. By designating “the work of Jiirgen Habermas…as little more than a provocative cul de sac,” Miller implies that no one should take the trouble even to read the book. While I doubt that Habermas' important contributions will be buried by Miller's review, it would be unfortunate if, on account of the review, anyone would pass over Legitimation Crisis as an irrelevancy.