Subject: HAB: Re: Re: Who is really interested in JH's works?
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 11:03:08 +1100


> I am genuinely interested in Habermas's works, particularly in an
> 'everyday' sense of applicable, universal ethics, but I also appreciate
> his work in it's own right as modern philosophy that I see in a certain
> context, as related to certain philosophical traditions.
>
> What I don't appreciate is a lack of diversity in views and uses of JH
> on this list.
snip

> Tom

I would like to be interested in Habermas's works, because Jeremy Shearmur
described him (in a book on Popper's political philosophy) as the most
exciting contemporary social philosopher (or words to that effect).
Unfortunately I found the contents of the "Habermas reader" to be almost
incomprehensible. I suppose it is possible for almost anyone to project into
Habermas, like an ink blot, and find thoughts that are congenial.

It would be most helpful if he, or some of his admirers, would engage in a
meaningful way with the works of people like Popper and Hayek (or more
generally with the work of the Austrian school of political economy). This
would bring out the genuine strengths and weaknesses of each party and shed
light on some important theoretical and practical issues.

I sympathise with Tom in his comment that Habermas has been recruited by
some list members as an ideological  stick to beat capitalism. It is hard to
see what Marxism or socialism have to to offer that would improve
"Capitalism" at this stage of teh game.

Rafe Champion
Sydney, Australia
http://zap.to/rafechampion




     --- from list habermas-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---