File spoon-archives/habermas.archive/habermas_2001/habermas.0110, message 84


From: "bob scheetz" <rscheetz-AT-cboss.com>
Subject: Re: HAB: samizdat
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 23:37:26 -0400


Matt,
     I began,  thinking he was marxian,...since disabused; but, as he does
insist it's not scholasticism, an empty formalism,  am constantly(and
reasonably, no?) in expectation to learn how or where or when the titans,
Reason (TCA-ethics) and Power engage;... and, finally, become concerned it's
only a subsidiary function, as , the social science of ethics, or, a modern
secular  rule-of-st-benedict.
     The order to kill bin Laden being already of course against the law,
it shows just how far, and in the constitutional state par excellence, they
believe in the laws they themselves pass.  So the casus is, as i see it, to
what effect do we arrive at universal rules as, "in civilized states (as
opposed to mafias) murder is forbidden as a practice of governance" ?
...how does Reason, discourse ethics, effect the moral amelioration of the
community over the egocentric Power?
...Wm James concludes (no?) that except ethics is grounded in a religion
(which would include marxism, no?) it hasn't the ontological stature to
oppose an anti- to the thesis of selfishness? The spirit/ethos of  Puritan
New England along with its gradual decline and dissappearance into
consumerist america lends great credence to James' contention; it was once a
titan.  Where is the force in Habermas' Ethic?  ...must it always defer to
the schroeder in the audience?

bob



----- Original Message -----
From: matthew piscioneri <mpiscioneri-AT-hotmail.com>
To: <habermas-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: HAB: samizdat


> Dear Bob,
>
> >what a vast gulf separates liberal idealism (rorty & habermas) from the
> >reality of Power.
>
> As far as I can tell, Habermas's work is VERY cognisant of the reality of
> power; what critical social theory could not be? This isn't to say I
> consider his proposed program to be entirely capable of overcoming the
> realities of power, but - can I ask you - is there anything in Habermas's
> work that you consider to be of any use in confronting, overcoming or even
> ameliorating the worst excesses of this *power* you identify?
>
> Best Regards,
>
> MattP
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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