Perspectives on Habermas [Paperback]

Lewis Edwin Hahn (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2000

This collection of writings by eminent philosophers explores the controversial career of Jurgen Habermas, whose adherence to the Enlightenment ideals of rationality, humanism, and respect for discourse has set him apart from most postmodernist thinkers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...The essays in this collection, the organization and fulfillment of this publishing project, exemplify, in spirit and in deed, the authors' and the editors' shared commitment to this sense of criticism. -- Lucius T. Outlaw, Jr., Vanderbilt University

This is an ambitious collection of essays covering crucial aspects of Habermas's encompassing social theory. -- Pablo De Greiff, SUNY at Buffalo

About the Author

A professor of philosophy at Southern Illinois University, Lewis E. Hahn is the author of A Contextualistic Theory of Perception, co-editor of The Early Works of John Dewey, 1882-1898, and editor of the Library of Living Philosophers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Open Court (October 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812694279
• ISBN-13: 978-0812694277
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,496,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those with a vested interest in the study of philosophy, August 16, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perspectives on Habermas (Paperback)

Perspectives On Habermas is an outstanding anthology of 30 essays by established philosophers on the work of the controversial philosopher Jurgen Habermas, who is perhaps the best-known spokesperson for the tradition called Critical Theory. Habermas devoted his life to articulating the defense of the Enlightenment ideals of rationality, humanism, and the limitless possibilities of rational, intellectual discourse. Thought-provoking and highly complex, Perspectives On Habermas is a work especially for those with a vested interest in the study of philosophy, for to weigh and judge the entire depth and breadth of Jurgen Habermas' postulations is a challenging mental task indeed.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misunderstood Lives, January 21, 2004

By 

Patricia B. Ross (Wellesley, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perspectives on Habermas (Paperback)

From the title it would be difficult for most, if not the majority of less culturally sophisticated to appreciate the value contained in these essays on the main components of enlightenment: humanism, and humane treatment, civility and civil communication, compassion, and kindness. Yet all indications of the current state of our social networks, and a great many of our social interactions, personal or impersonal, could benefit from a re-examination of the importance of legitimacy, honesty, cooperation, and redemption. In fact, it may well be golden age for philosophers to introduce updated analysis on both the need for this, and the negligence of society to provide focus upon this very important social and psychological topic as we slide further and further into the "neverland" of returning from the most uncivil, unkind, uncaring terrorism yet known to man, a point where the individual is perceived as useless, and has no value whatsoever. Very timely in view of both foreign events and domestic response and reaction to them, but not necessarily confined to that scope of "reasonable and logical intervention." The society that fails to help itself due to fear, repugnance, and resignation may well be one that cannot be pulled back into optimism and hope. Having taken the first steps upon and along this road, few pathways lead back to comfort and happiness. It is much like entering the world of the insane and finding the door closed and locked behind. The most logical foresight is never to step inside in the first place, but in view of events after 9/11/2001, backtracking is impossible, and before us lies the very rocky road of recovery. Understanding this is merely half the battle, since cooperation and determination of the safe road forward remains elusive. Never begun, the end is not so difficult to imagine. Appreciating the past has little value when the future imagined is closed to hope.