Subject: RE: [HAB:] Trilateralism [Ken]
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 23:00:55 -0500




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From: owner-habermas-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
[mailto:owner-habermas-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU] On Behalf Of matthew
piscioneri
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 4:04 AM
To: habermas-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU
Subject: RE: [HAB:] Trilateralism [Ken]

KM
 >His theory of systematically distorted communication requires
>constant critique, a relentless uncovering of power structures and
>generalised interests.


MattP
Have to disagree with you on this one. There IS a practical moment in 
Habermas’s reconstructed Critical Theory – there has to be – otherwise his 
objective to return to the programmatic intentions of early Critical Theory 
doesn’t go all the way:

Uncovering systematically distorted communication is practical - it requires
an analysis of institutional power, the distorting influence of symbols, the
affects of money and power, etc. This entails ruthless criticism insofar as
any critique itself could be fallible. Critical theory requires a constant
revisitation of its own conclusions and analyses.... that's just good
theory, doesn't have to be metaphysics or aporia.

KM
>let's get on
>with it - let's talk about the way in which our democracies are tied to
>certain economic interests which aren't at all interested in democracy.

MattP
But I thought this was taken for granted. Who the hell DOESN’T KNOW THIS???

KM
But who the hell working on Habermas is actually doing it!?! Bad question, I
retract. But look at Honneth's work - yeah, he's doing some really
interesting stuff - but his book Struggle for Recognition is basically a
research proposal, modifying Habermas's research proposal. When are we
finally going to get around to seeing if this theoretical project is useful
for understanding existing power relations? The best criticism of Habermas
comes from those working in the field - Benhabib's feminist critique of
Habermas for example....

ken



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