Subject: Re: HAB: solidarity [Ralph #2]
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 23:58:21 +0000
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<P>Ralph,</P>
<P>Having got my initial reaction to your missive off my chest, a constructive question for you:<BR><BR>[You wrote]</P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>The most obvious
<DIV></DIV>>connection is that the Bush administration, like Hitler's, is the
<DIV></DIV>>utmost antithesis of communicative rationality. It is rule by pure
<DIV></DIV>>intimidation. The rationale behind it is so hollow nobody really
<DIV></DIV>>believes in it. It succeeds only because the American people have
<DIV></DIV>>been so demoralized they are completely numb.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>What do you Habermasians have to say about this? Nothing. You are
<DIV></DIV>
<P>>completely useless. </P>
<P>What do you have to say about the above in terms of analysis of this situation's origins and then recommendations for changing the status quo?</P>
<P>If we were to apply Habermas's theory to the sort of dialogue that is going on between the U.S, U.N and Iraq then the question arises:</P>
<P>Has the unforced force of the better argument emerged?</P>
<P>Take the existence or otherwise of WOMD as the core validity claim; to this observer I would suggest that the validity of the U.S's and Blair's claim (that Iraq has WOMDs) is doubtful. So the allies next claim is an almost unredeemeable validity claim: Iraq is hiding these weapons...how can this validity claim be redeemed and the unforced force of the better argument rationally be ascertained? So somewhere at this point the usefulness of Habermas starts to decline. Switch over to overt strategic action wherein the claim to validity is in fact an unmasked power claim: Do this or else...hand them over or we will attack. Now what happens if Iraq doesn't have anything to handover. Other than the wonderfully absurd scenario of Iraq quickly purchasing WOMDs from the U.S, and then handing them back, Iraq has no where to go. </P>
<P>This is why I see more value in the anti-war movement (and I don't *like* this approach) supporting calls for Hussein to go into exile.</P>
<P>So it is NOT that we Habermasians are useless; just that the time for Habermas's theory to be practically useful seems to have passed. Although, whilst there is talk people aren't being blown apart. That remains a momentary positive in the face of the forthcoming instalment of absurdity about to be played out.</P>
<P>Regards,</P>
<P>MattP</P>
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