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Jurgen Habermans

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The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society Paperback – Illustrated, March 1, 1985

by Jürgen Habermas (Author), Thomas McCarthy (Translator)

4.7 48 ratings

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A major contribution to contemporary social theory. Not only does it provide a compelling critique of some of the main perspectives in 20th century philosophy and social science, but it also presents a systematic synthesis of the many themse which have preoccupied Habermas for thirty years. --Times Literary Supplement

Review

"A substantial study that displays all the rigour and systemicity, the vision and the originality, which have justly earned Habermas the reputation of being the foremost social and political thinker in Germany today ... The Theory of Communicative Action represents a major contribution to contemporary social theory. Not only does it provide a compelling critique of some of the main perspectives in twentieth-century philosophy and social science, but it also presents a systematic synthesis of the many themes that have preoccupied Habermas for thirty years." – Times Literary Supplement

"One of the broadest, most comprehensive, elaborately and intensely theoretical works in social theory. Social theory and philosophy may never be the same again" – Philosophy and Social Criticism

From the Back Cover

The key to his notion of reaching understanding is the possibility of using reasons or grounds to gain intersubjective recognition for criticizable validity claims.

About the Author

Jürgen Habermas (born June 18, 1929) is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism.

Print length

465 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Beacon Press
Publication date

March 1, 1985
Dimensions

6.03 x 1.27 x 8.96 inches
ISBN-10

0807015075
ISBN-13

978-0807015070
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press; Reprint edition (March 1, 1985)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 465 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807015075
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807015070
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.51 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.03 x 1.27 x 8.96 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #225,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #117 in Sociology of Social Theory
- #179 in Social Philosophy
- #322 in Modern Western Philosophy

Customer Reviews:
4.7 48 ratings

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4.7 out of 5

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Arnold Smit

Tough but enlightening

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have delved into Habermas for research purposes. His work makes for tough reading, but it is like a magnet, drawing you in and pulling you back when you think you have had enough. His ability to engage in debate with the philosophical and sociological traditions and scholars of his time offers a kind of mind map without which you can barely have a sufficient understanding of societal developments and trends of the previous and current century. For now my interest is primarily in his theory of communicative action as worked out in two volumes and some of his later works that sprout forth from that. I surely regret that I have discovered his work at such a late stage in my life. My journey with him will definitely continue.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2016

thank you

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2014

awesome

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2009

This review is in response to the negative review posted here by Justin Evans. This is also more of a defense and appreciation of Habermas' work in general.

I've read a lot of Hegel, and I do not think Habermas misreads Hegel. It is a profoundly insightful critique of Hegel to say that while he recognized the dialectical construction of History he wrongly insisted on making its comprehension the possession of a monological absolute subject. I don't think there is any better way to explain the persistent conflict that irrupts in a room of Hegelians (I've seen it many times) than that there is a fundamentally problematic monomania in Hegelian philosophy (reflective of most previous Western philosophy as well).

Don't misunderstand what Habermas means by "universal". It would be a mistake to take his critique of relativism vis-a-vis universalism as a search for some kind of Platonic purity apart from the situated individual. Habermas only uses the term "universal" in conjunction with "pragmatics", referring to the easily reasonable claim that any use of language (thus meaning) in any time or place, implies communicative action between language users.

A better comprehension of Habermas' approach here is aided by a critical reading of Heidegger's phenomenological analysis of Dasein. Despite Heidegger's own clearly frustrated desire for a monological meaning of being, his committed phenomenology reveals Dasein's essential being-with-an-other. When Heidegger discloses the inauthenticity-of-understanding-as-they-understand as the very condition for first developing one's own authenticity, it is better understood in Habermas' less morally pejorative terms of moving from being a conventional language user to becoming a post-conventional language user.

Habermas' theory of communicative action brings great clarity to critical thinking if you've been frustratingly spellbound by the parade of egocentric failures in theory from Cartesian foundationalism to Hegelian absolute subjectivity to Heideggerian ontology.

In the end it just seems difficult for people with strong intellects (like those attracted to theory) to accept that our own meanings are contingent upon interaction with an other in an open-ended way. Thus most of the great philosophers and theorists tend to fantasize about an ultimate closure which can be grasped within themselves by themselves.

22 people found this helpful

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Hovhannes Grigoryan

"monster work"

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2004

it took me 1.5 years to read this book and to make an attempt to understand it in its whole power and beauty.
Real contribution to social theory, a great synthesis...
But for ordinary readers there are two ways to approach this book:
1.to undertand the main idea, but even it in only 20-30%
2. to penetrate into the magical world of social philosophy and sociological theory..
you choose...
Thanks to Habermas for such an epical book...

8 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Well respected scholar but it just was not up to my taste

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

Lot's of information and drew good discussion.

One person found this helpful

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Ellen H. Tate

Tough read, but well worth it

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2008

A slow, difficult read for me; but introduced me to Habermas work, which has been invaluable.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A classic

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2000

I was quite surprised when I noted that there was no review to this book. In fact, this book will be considered in the future as a real classic lecture. As the figure of Habermas becomes more important every day his most important work become crucial. A must-read.

12 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Tatsumakisen

A one of a kind book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2015

Verified Purchase

I bought this as part of my Master's degree thesis and whilst I managed to grasp many of Habermas' core concepts, it's undoubtedly one of the most challenging academic books I've ever read; indeed one of the toughest I've ever fought to get my head around.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

Excellent

blue ruby

my presents

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

this was a present

Big Pete

Doesn't stand up.

Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

Although certainly important for the history of sociology, having revisited this book after years of study and research I'm shocked by how dated and clumsy it is. It doesn't stand up the way, say Bhaskar and Foucault do. A colleague told me a few years ago that Habermas recanted the whole project; I don't know if this is true. Students of social theory: tread warily.

Aloysius Ventham

The end of a two volume literature review

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book is unbelievably boring. The first volume is a summary of sociologists, and an unfair one at that (fans of Weber - do not read this book, you'll only get upset) - the second volume is pretty much the same. Mind-numbingly dull and not worth the effort.

One person found this helpful

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