Recognition and Moral Progress: A Case Study about Discourses on Disability in the Media

This article aims to discuss the notion of moral progress in the theory of recognition. It argues that Axel H onneth's program offers sophisticated theoretical guidance to observe and critically interpret emancipatory projects in contemporary politics based on ideas of individuality and social inclusiveness. Using a case study – the investigation, through frame analysis, of transformations in the portrayal of people with impairment as well as in public discourses on the issue of disability in major B razilian news media from 1960 to 2008 – this article addresses three controversies: the notion of progress as a directional process; the problem of moral disagreement and conflict of interest in struggles for recognition; and the processes of social learning. By articulating empirically based arguments and H onneth's normative discussions, this study concludes that one can talk about moral progress without losing sight of value pluralism and conflict of interest.