Habermas's Critical Theory of SocietyThis book provides an understanding of the content and aims of Habermas's critical theory of society -- the theory that analyzes the causes of our cultural lack of direction, polical apathy, and the increasing complexity of modern society. The author offers a foothold on the current debates regarding the credibility and cogency of the theory. Braaten presents Habermas's defense of his critique of reason in his most recent work concerning the confrontation between postmodernists and neoconservatives, and modernists and liberal theorists. She also explores the possibility of applying Habermas's critical resources in the United States in ways that he himself may not have considered. |
Contents
An Outline of Habermass Critical Theory | 9 |
A Consensus Theory of Truth and Knowledge | 19 |
A Consensus Theory of Normative Validity | 29 |
The Theory of Communicative Competence | 51 |
The Critique of Societal Rationalization | 75 |
Two Challenges Positivism and Postmodernism | 105 |
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Common terms and phrases
ability according to Habermas Adorno aesthetic analysis argument basis of speech Cambridge chapter commitment communica communicative competence communicative rationality concept consensus theory critical theory cultural derived discourse discourse ethics distinction distorted Enlightenment ethical norms example explain Foucault Frankfurt School functional rationality generalizable interests Haber Habermas argues Habermas believes Habermas calls Habermas's theory Habermas's view Hegel Heidegger human hypothesis Ibid ideal speech situation ideology interaction lifeworld Marx mas's mass media Max Horkheimer Max Weber MCCA modern society moral mutual understanding nature need interpretation needs and interests Nietzsche normative validity claims participants perspective philosophy political possible postmodernism pragmatics principle processes rational consensus reconstruction relationship role social psychology social science societal evolution societal rationalization speaker speech act Theodor Adorno theorists theory of communicative theory of societal theory of truth Thomas McCarthy tion tive tradition trans truth claims universal pragmatics University Press utopian validity basis values Weber welfare