Winter Week 8 - Habermas

Question 1

Define/explain: modernity

Answer 1

• the belief in a singular truth as representative of reality
• values secularism, rationality, and technological development

Question 2

Define: ideal speech situation

Answer 2

• rational productive communication process
• where two or more sides have shared goals and abilities: mutual understanding, and discourse
• lack of ideology to colour opinions

Question 3

Define: Post Modernity

Answer 3

• rejects belief in a singular truth as representative of reality
• priviledges subjective narratives, multiple discourses

Question 4

Why does Habermas reject the idea of post-modernity?

Answer 4

• post-modernity is simply a continuation of the development of modernity
• modernity has not yet reached its full potential
• post-modernity rejects many of the values of modernity, ex. rationality, that help maintain post-modernity

Question 5

Define: lifeworld

Answer 5

• environment in which an individual’s consciousness is immersed
• subjective and intersubjective, we live there and communicate there

Question 6

Define: speech acts

Answer 6

• communication with the goal of mutual understanding
• reinforce lifeworlds
• reproduces cultural knowledge

Question 7

How do societies reproduce cultural knowledge?

Answer 7

• situations in lifeworlds require speech acts, which use language, these then reproduce themselves
• rationality is required in every step
• without rational language with can’t achieve mutual understanding or any common knowledge

Question 8

Define: public sphere

Answer 8

• where citizens freely express opinions on genera/public interest topics
• social space, site of debates, finding solutions
• based on rational language

Question 9

Define: civil society

Answer 9

• politically motivated groups tied to institutions
• ex. political parties
• can have influence in public sphere and parliament, problematic

Question 10

7 roles of the media to protect public sphere:

Answer 10

1. encourage citizens to participate
2. identify on key issues
3. hold officials accountable
4. encourage debates across party lines
5. report developments
6. respect the intelligence of audience members
7. involve different viewpoints

Question 11

How is the balance of power maintained?

Answer 11

1. media

2. civil disobedience to restructure the will of social actors