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Full Idea
We understand the meaning of a speech act when we know what would make it acceptable.
Gist of Idea
To understand a statement is to know what would make it acceptable
Source
Jürgen Habermas (The Theory of Communicative Action [1981], I:297), quoted by James Gordon Finlayson - Habermas Ch.3:37
Book Ref
Finlayson,James G.: 'Habermas' [OUP 2005], p.37
A Reaction
Finlayson glosses this as requiring the reasons which would justify the speech act.
| 20962 | Habermas seems to make philosophy more democratic [Habermas, by Bowie] |
| 15665 | We can do social philosophy by studying coordinated action through language use [Habermas, by Finlayson] |
| 15670 | The aim of 'post-metaphysical' philosophy is to interpret the sciences [Habermas, by Finlayson] |
| 20573 | Rather than instrumental reason, Habermas emphasises its communicative role [Habermas, by Oksala] |
| 20961 | What is considered a priori changes as language changes [Habermas, by Bowie] |
| 15668 | Meaning is not fixed by a relation to the external world, but a relation to other speakers [Habermas, by Finlayson] |
| 15669 | People endorse equality, universality and inclusiveness, just by their communicative practices [Habermas, by Finlayson] |
| 23416 | Political involvement is needed, to challenge existing practices [Habermas, by Kymlicka] |
| 15667 | To understand a statement is to know what would make it acceptable [Habermas] |