Tutorial week 1 Flashcards
Why was Critical Theory developed?
An experienced ‘loss of meaning,’ corruption of the possibility for self
actualisation
Whatwherethegrounds for thedevelopment of Critical Theory
The unfolding of reason, both individually and on a state level is ‘self
actualisation,’ this is what propels history forward — or leads to progress.
Connection Hegels dialectic and Critical Theory
the collapse of any given attitude will be
accompanied by the emergenceof some new implicit criterion that
will be the basis of a new emergent attitude.
What is the rational universal?
the rational universal that can provide the members of society
with the orientation according to which they can meaningfully
direct their lives.”
What is a ‘social pathology’?
“It is with reference to such an authority of rational practice that
critical theorists can analyse society according to a theory of reason
qua diagnosis of social pathologies. Deviations from the ideal
that would be achieved with the social actualization of the
rational universal can be described as social pathologies
since they must accompany a regrettable loss of prospects
for intersubjective self-actualization.”
What does the ‘rational universal’ look like in practice?
Collectively: “a shared conviction is required that each of these activities
is of an importance that justifies, if necessary, the neglect of individual
interests. To this extent, Critical Theory presupposes a normative ideal
of society that is incompatible with the individualistic premises of the
liberal tradition.”
Individually: “the turn to a liberating practice of cooperation should not
result from affective bonds or feelings of membership or agreement but
from rational insight”
→There is an ongoing differentiation between these two level, this is
necessary for “intersubjective self-actualization
Whyis thesociological dimension neccessary for critical theory?
Critical theory is immanent. The structures that are being critiqued ar
also the structures from within which the critique is developed.
Therefore there has to be some sort of cohesive overview of these
structures
“Critical Theory must couple the critique of social injustice with an
explanation of the processes that obscure that injustice.”
How can a ‘social pathology’ be “diagnosed” and how can it be cured?
Diagnosing a social pathology involves identifying the suffering and impediments to self-actualization caused by irrational or oppressive societal structures. The cure lies in mobilizing rational powers and mutual cooperation to transform these structures, guided by the collective desire of individuals to overcome suffering and pursue self-fulfillment.
What is necessary for emancipatory interest?
Indestructable core of rational responsiveness
Why and how does Habermas differentiate himself from the first
generation of critical theorists? (For example: Adorno & Horkheimer)
“Habermas also argued that Horkheimer and Adorno’s work suffered
from a powerful contradiction. Namely, their radical critique of
reason seemed, paradoxically, to depend upon reason itself. If their
analysis precluded the possibility of reaching understanding through
communication, then on what grounds, Habermas asked, were they
offering a critique ?
What is the ‘rational universal’ and ‘social pathology’ for Habermas?
“Habermas secures the Hegelian idea of a rational universal by
means of the concept of communicative agreement, whose idealizing
presuppositions are supposed to meet the concern that the potential of
discursive rationality regains universal acceptance at every new stage of
social development. We can speak therefore of a social pathology as
soon as the symbolic reproduction of society is no longer subjected to
those standards of rationality which are inherent in the most highly
developed form of linguistic understanding.”
What is the goal of ‘communicative rationality’? What does this look
like in practice?
“The theory of communicative action focuses on the different kinds of
“validity claims” that are implicit within speech acts. Speakers raise
three validity claims with their utterances. First, that the statement is
true. Second, that the statement is right with respect to the existing
normative context of action. And third, that the speaker is being
sincere.”
What if a speaker does not fulfill these criteria?
speech act can be contested –> discourse
How can we prevent the dominance of instrumental rationality and
maintain and preserve communicative rationality?
the key resides in discourse. His theory of “discourse ethics”
reconstructs the moral point of view through a discursive account of
moral reasoning. According to discourse ethics, the promise of
rational consensus on questions of morality and ethics is implied by
the very use of the terms “ought” and “right” within communicative
action.
