Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 21:37:29 +0100
From: Nickos Kyriazis <nikyriazis-AT-easynet.co.uk>
Subject: HAB: Postmetaphysic Reason


Hello everybody,

I encounter some difficulties in comprehending the meaning of
postmetaphysical reasoning.

 Habermas claims in BFN p. 469 that  'using the tools of postmetaphysical
theorising... social-contract theories were proposed... [that] translated
the Aristotelian concept of the political authority - the self-rule of free
and equal persons - into the basic concepts of the philosophy of the subject'.

In a similar context, Benhabib argues in Situating the Self, p. 4-5 that
the 'first step in the formulation of a post-metaphysical universalist
position is to shift from a substantialistic to a discursive, communicative
concept of rationality'.

What I have confused a bit, is whether the term postmetaphysical denotes
the shift from the philosophy of the subject towards communicative
rationality, or whether it initiates the substitution of religious or
metaphysical forms of legitimation for legitimacy grounded on practical
reason. It seems to me that the latter use of the term is more valid. 

I would be grateful for any comments on my note or for any bibliographic
suggestion.

Nickos Kyriazis


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