Deconstructing Habermas / Lasse Thomassen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thomassen, Lasse.

Series:

Routledge studies in social and political thought ; 51.

Routledge studies in social and political thought ; 51

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--Philosophy.

Political science.

Habermas, Jürgen.

Deconstruction.

Physical Description:

xi, 186 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, [2008]

Summary:

This book is the first book-length deconstructive study of the political philosophy of Jrgen Habermas. Inspired by the work of Jacques Derrida, the book applies deconstruction to key issues in Habermass work: rational discourse and rational consensus, constitutional democracy, tolerance and civil disobedience.

The war in Iraq brought Habermas and Derrida together in defense of international law and in favor of a bigger role for a united Europe in international affairs. Yet, despite the rapprochement between Habermas and Derrida in the years prior to Derridas death, important differences remain between Habermass critical theory and Derridas deconstruction. These differences reflect differences between post-structuralism and critical theory and between postmodernists and the defenders of modernity.

Contents:

Introduction: deconstructing Habermas

Let's have a "discussion"!

A hospitable reading

From rational reconstruction to deconstruction

The aporias of rational consensus

Rational consensus

The violence of consensus: Jean-François Lyotard

"A more inclusive model of communication": Iris Marion Young

"Back to the rough ground": Chantal Mouffe

The aporia of rational consensus

From aim to process: "Das Nein-Sagen-Können"

Rational (re)constructions

Conclusion

"A bizarre, even opaque practice": constitutionalism and democracy

Introduction: constitutionalism and democracy

The co-originality thesis

Vicious circularity and infinite regress

In the "whirlpool of temporality"

Undecidability and fictions

"A bizarre, even opaque practice": theoretical and political strategies

Towards a deconstructive alternative

The inclusion of the other's tolerance

Introduction: the inclusion of the other and the paradox of tolerance

Inclusion through distinction

Blurring the distinction

The threshold of tolerance

Tolerance, equality and inequality

The destruction of tolerance or a deconstructive tolerance?

Civil disobedience within the limits of deliberative reason alone

Introduction: civil disobedience as litmus test

Definition: civil disobedience within the limits of public reason and constitutional democracy

Between legality and legitimacy

Not yet or to come? Realizing the principles of constitutional democracy

Between majority rule and rational consensus

Who decides?

Disobedience without the guidance of deliberative reason: maturity

Responsobility

Towards an ethics of discussion

Introduction

What is philosophy? What is reason?

In defence of democracy

Responding

Bibliography

Notes

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-181) and index.

ISBN:

9780415360548

0415360544

OCLC:

76828721