Justification and Application of Habermas's Discourse Ethics
Date Issued
2005
Date
2005
Author(s)
Lee, Chi-Cheng
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
In this thesis I attempt to discuss Habermas’s “discourse ethics” and argue how it can provide a possible solution to contemporary moral and political conflicts. Especially, in post-metaphysical times, discourse ethics try to justify the common, reasonable and valid norm to integrate social actions. From a Kantian point of view, but with de-transcendental position, discourse ethics wants to reconstructure a procedural moral theory, its aim is to discuss the conditions of reaching mutual understanding (further, acquire consensus) through discursive process intersubjectively.
First, I explain Habermas’s universal pragmatics as the basic of communicative action and discourses, and analyze its components, including theory of truth and meaning.
Secondly, I want to discuss how to justify two main principles of discourse ethics: principles of universalization and discourse, and explain their meanings and application. However, Habermas divides the three use modes of practical reason: ethical, moral, and pragmatic. Discourse ethics is a moral discourse, not ethical discourse, the former emphasizes the priority of the justice or right, and the latter claims the priority of the good. I want to analyze their differences.
Thirdly, there are two aspects in discourse ethics, one is justification of universal moral norm, and the other is to apply this moral norm to legal or political practices. I attempt to interpret the crisis of the modern legal system (positive law), namely it is insufficient to justify the resource of legitimation alone through legal process, and to explain discourse ethics how to solve this problem.
In conclusion, I want to compare discourse ethics with other theories: political liberalism (Ralws), postmodernism (Foucault) and communitarianism (Taylor). Finally, I try to supply some critical and available opinions.
Subjects
普遍化原則
話語倫理學
批判理論
正當性
哈伯瑪斯
Habermas
legitimation
discourse ethics
critical theory
principle of universalization
Type
thesis