Date: 	Mon, 17 Nov 1997 21:14:41 -0500
From: "kenneth.mackendrick" <kenneth.mackendrick-AT-utoronto.ca>
Subject: Re: Individuals and communication (fwd)



On Mon, 17 Nov 1997 13:47:58 -0500  michele.intorcia-AT-ntt.it 
wrote:

> But his epistemology is costructivist. Here become he must 
> found autologically his theory (the sociology like theory of 
> the society in the society). I think (tell me if mistake!) 
> that he is very logician: I could refuse his epistemology but 
> his theory of the knowledge continual to be viable.

Habermas argues that Luhmann is arguing from the 
perspective of a philosophy of consciousness - which places 
strong limits on what he can achieve critically in terms of a 
critical theory of society.  Habermas has attempted to break 
out of the aporia via the linguistic turn in order to demonstrate 
that autonomous subsystems are not necessarily closed.  
Habermas does this in order to demonstrate that a couple of 
things.  First that the steering mechanisms of systems is 
actually a hardened symbolic exchange of communicative 
expectations.  He cites the examples of money and power.  By 
providing a critique of such steering mechanisms Habermas 
is hoping to "burst open" systems theory such that it becomes 
ammenable to further linguistification via a theory of 
argumentation.
> 
> >A critique of instrumental reason is necessary in order to 
make ones' way out of the circle 
> 
> We agree: but I wonder am possible a criticism to the 
> instrumental reason from inside a theory of the systems. 
You  does thing think some? I's Possible? I's maybe this the 
> attempt of Habermas?

Habermas tries to develop a theory of intersubjectivity - 
drawing heavily on the work of Mead to do so.  I would also 
think that such a critique could be made from ther perspective 
of the Frankfurt School - from the position of Adorno and 
Marcuse in particular.  However Habermas develops his 
position in order to demonstrate the commensurate nature of 
systems and communicative action.  He argues, in his book 
"Between Facts and Norms" that systems (the legal system in 
this instance) is a forum where the rational steering of society 
can take place.  This idea develops out of his discourse ethics 
and carries over into law by way of his procedural conception 
of reason.  By cementing legal institutions in a rational forum 
of public debate ruled by consensus Habermas hopes to 
demonstrate that systems can remain rational 
(progressive) despite their authoritative and conservative 
influence.  Of course all of this is in theory not in practice.

in theory,
ken