From: EDavisMail-AT-aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 15:27:10 -0500 (EST)
Subject: HAB: Habermas and Social Action


Thank you, Vic Peterson Kenneth MacKendrick for your prompt replies.

Perhaps my question was not focused enough, because I don't feel as though I
made my problem understood.  Maybe if we differentiate between (a) shared
principles and (b) shared goals/purposes among social agents, my problem
might come into relief.  A 'principle' might be, for example (thank you
Kant): one should treat persons as ends and never merely as means.  A 'goal'
might be, for example: to start and manage an art gallery.  The standard
sociological definition of 'social action' or, even better, 'collective
action' would certainly include my example of a goal above, insofar as it
entails a SHARED PURPOSE among the participating social agents.

My problem centers around whether H's approach to social integration and
communicatively achieved consensus emphasizes both (a) a shared purpose and
shared principles, or (b) mostly a shared purpose, or (c) mostly shared
principles.  Having said that, I acknowledge that a goal might well be to
achieve shared principles among agents via dialogue (which already
implicitly, according to H., entails shared principles).  But, for me, that
clearly entails an emphasis on PRINCIPLES.

I believe that shared principles are a necessary, but not sufficient,
condition for social integration, insofar as the fulfillment of human needs
and desires (other than simply successful communication) must be
ACHIEVED--i.e. brought about or made manifest--by means of, to a certain
extent, deliberate human PURPOSES (such as, if you'll forgive my
straightforwardness, and since this is getting kind of dry, finding a lover
and getting laid.)  

My first problem/question: 
Does H's approach to social integration entail a shared PURPOSE beyond simply
the achievement of shared PRINCIPLES?

My second, and for me most important, question/problem: 
How, if at all, does H suggest that integration on a MACRO-social level can
be achieved?  Must this be achieved though a shared PURPOSE (beyond merely
achieving shared principles) or through simply shared PRINCIPLES?  

Does successful social integration on the MACRO-social level entail a shared
PURPOSE (beyond merely the achievement of shared principles) among all social
agents?

Thanks again for your help.

Erik,
CSU, Hayward


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