Recognition as a Reference Point for a Concept of Progress in Critical Theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12643173 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ejvind Hansen (0000-0002-5094-4355, Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas University of Aarhus, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 99-117 |
| Publication date | 2009-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Critical Horizons (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1440-9917 • E-ISSN: 1568-5160 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1558/crit.v10i1.99 |
| OpenAlex | W2000012470 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 6 |
In this paper I discuss Axel Honneth's recent attempt to establish a robust notion of progress through reference to recognitive structures. I claim that two strategies can be found in his writings for founding such a claim. On the one hand he tries to found the notion of progress on how differentiated the recognitive structures are. On the other hand he tries to found it on certain empirically revealed anthropological and psychological constants. I argue that both strategies fail. The differentiation strategy is too open; the psychological strategy is too narrow. I discuss in what sense Honneth's reflections on the importance of recognitive structures still may be of value in critical discussions. Even though it may be granted that a certain notion of progress is inevitable in critical discussions, it does not follow that it has to be a robust notion. I suggest that recognitive structures may serve as a universal reference point that can be used to locate disagreement (recognitive structures are always at play), rather than a robust universal starting-point that can be used to solve disagreement (it is not given that we agree upon which recognitive structures should be furthered)
Epistemology · Point (geometry · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Computer Science · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Mathematics · Philosophy · Pragmatism in Philosophy and Education · Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, and Politics
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |