Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 2 - Couverture souple

Habermas, Jurgen

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0745607705 ISBN 13 : 9780745607702

Editeur : Polity, 1989

A propos du livre

Quatrième de couverture

Here, for the first time in English, is volume one of JurgenHabermas′s long–awaited magnum opus: The Theory of CommunicativeAction. This pathbreaking work is guided by three interrelatedconcerns: (1) to develop a concept of communicative rationalitythat is no longer tied to the subjective and individualisticpremises of modern social and political theory; (2) to construct atwo–level concept of society that integrates the ′lifeworld′ and′system′ paradigms; and (3) to sketch out a critical theory ofmodernity that explains its sociopathologies in a new way.

Habermas approaches these tasks through a combination ofconceptual analyses, systematic reflections, and criticalreconstructions of such predecessors as Marx and Weber, Durkheimand Mead, Horkheimer and Adorno, Schutz and Parsons. Reason andthe Rationalization of Society develops a sociological theoryof action that stresses not its means–ends or teleological aspect,but the need to coordinate action socially via communication. Inthe introductory chapter Habermas sets out a powerful series ofarguments on such foundational issues as cultural and historicalrelativism, the methodology of Verstehen, the inseparabilty ofinterpretation from critique. In addition to clarifying thenormative foundations of critical social inquiry, this sets thestage for a systematic appropriation of Weber′s theory ofrationalization and its Marxist reception by Lukacs, Horkheimer andAdorno.

This is an important book for degree students of philosophy,sociology and related subjects.

Présentation de l'éditeur

This study offers a systematic reconstruction of the theoretical foundations and framework of critical social theory. It is Habermas′ "magnum opus", and it is regarded as one of the most important works of modern social thought. In this second and final volume of the work, Habermas examines the relations between action concepts and systems theory and elaborates a framework for analyzing the developmental tendencies of modern societies. He discusses in detail the work of Marx, Durkheim, G.H. Mead and Talcott Parsons, among others. By distinguishing between social systems and what he calls the "life–world", Habermas is able to analyze the ways in which the development of social systems impinges upon the symbolic and subjective dimensions of social life, resulting in the kind of crises, conflicts and protest movements which are characteristic of advanced capitalist societies in the late–20th century.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Polity
• Date d'édition: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0745607705
• ISBN 13: 9780745607702
• Reliure: Broché
• Langue: anglais
• Nombre de pages: 466