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Between Habermas and Lyotard: Rethinking the Contrast between Modernity and Postmodernity.
- Source :
- Theory, Culture & Society; May2024, Vol. 41 Issue 3, p71-88, 18p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The article shows that Habermas's modernism and Lyotard's postmodernism are not as antithetical as they are often taken to be. First, we argue that Habermas is not a strong foundationalist concerned with identifying universal rules for language, as postmodern critiques have often interpreted him. Instead, he develops a social pragmatics in which the communicative use of language is the fundamental presupposition of any meaningful interaction. Second, we argue that Lyotard is not a relativist who denies any universal linguistic structure. Instead, he claims that language involves a universal element of dissensus that cannot be subordinated to consensus. Third, we show that neither does Habermas defend a new version of the kind of philosophy of history characteristic of the Enlightenment, nor is Lyotard a historical relativist, but instead they both seek alternatives to these positions. The conclusion calls for more nuance in the interpretation of both perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SOCIOLOGY
SOCIAL sciences
HUMAN behavior
SOCIAL theory
CULTURE
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02632764
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Theory, Culture & Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177035890
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764231194483