Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 01:42:50 EDT
Subject: Re: [HAB:] state and lifeworld [Matt]


In a message dated 9/8/2003 12:33:16 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
mpiscioneri-AT-hotmail.com writes:

> In other words, Foucault has helped - in a not inconsiderable way - to 
> *shape* the cultural, philosophical and political present (Habermas also, 
> Derrida also etc). A re-examination of their work on the present is required 
> 
> in light of the impact their work has had on the present. In other words, 
> the present just ain't the same as it was. Unless - and I am very 
> sympathetic to this p.o.v - the *present* doesn't change all that much. But, 
> 
> then, I am such a structuralist.
> 
Tom Bottomore in his critique of Habermas states that, "Theories are relevant 
to social practice since knwledge provides social comprehension which is an 
indispensable guide to possible action in the social context.  Knowing and 
acting are inseparably conjoined since rational action depends upon socially 
relevant reason."  Now, I believe that the present is changing and I am concerned 
about the direction of change.  It just seems to me that normative obligations 
WHICH ARE NOT JUSTIFIABLE is determining our understanding of the lifeworld, 
normative obligations which are directly manipulated by political processes 
which are mostly controlled by agencies of the state.  This is how I understand 
the colonization thesis abstractly.  The concrete examples are extensive.  But, 
one which is my peeve is that most people engage in personal relationships 
without moral considerations and quite often without externalizing their 
political assumptions.

I> n many ways the issue has alway been a normative one for critical social 
> theorists: how much human nature, how much nurture/culture. It ALL gets 
> coopted so might as well tell it as it is.

I would say that the issue has always been a moral one for critical social 
theorists, namely that norms must be justified by moral judgments, otherwise 
norms become imperatives, that is, instincts.

FredWelfare


--- StripMime Warning --  MIME attachments removed --- 
This message may have contained attachments which were removed.

Sorry, we do not allow attachments on this list.

--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- 
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
---


     --- from list habermas-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---