Premium
WHAT IS STILL CRITICAL IN THE WORK OF JÜRGEN HABERMAS?
Author(s) -
Koch Andrew M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.259
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 1555-5623
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.2001.tb00584.x
Subject(s) - legitimation , solidarity , criticism , epistemology , critical theory , politics , sociology , power (physics) , enlightenment , reading (process) , dimension (graph theory) , social science , political science , law , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , mathematics , pure mathematics
This paper will present a strategic reading of Habermas's project since the publishing of his “Legitimation Crisis.” We examine his consensus theory of truth, the assumption of mutually acceptable outcomes in political discourse, and the role of law in bringing about social solidarity. We argue that Habermas has made several questionable assumptions while constructing this project that leave him open to criticism. We suggest that in his desire to preserve the Enlightenment, Habermas has ignored the power dimension of political life, leading him in a very “uncritical” direction.