Single Idea 20573

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason]

Full Idea

Instead of Enlightenment instrumental rationality (criticised by Adorno and Horkheimer), Habermas emphasizes 'communicative rationality', which makes critical discussion and mutual understanding possible.

Gist of Idea

Rather than instrumental reason, Habermas emphasises its communicative role

Source

report of Jürgen Habermas (The Theory of Communicative Action [1981]) by Johanna Oksala - Political Philosophy: all that matters Ch.6

Book Reference

Oksala,Johanna: 'Political Philosophy' [Hodder and Stoughton 2013], p.78


A Reaction

There was a good reason not to smoke cigarettes, before we found out what it is. In one sense, reasons are in the world. This is interesting, but I feel analytic vertigo, as the lovely concept of 'rationality' becomes blurred and diffused.