Habermas and the Transformations of Critical Theory

This book brings together an exceptional group of renowned scholars in philosophy and sociology, offering deep and insightful engagements with Jürgen Habermas's thought. With contributions from some of the most prominent figures in contemporary social theory, the volume delivers authoritative analyses that highlight Habermas's enduring influence on critical discourse.

The essays examine key dimensions of Habermas's work, from his genealogy of moral reasoning and critiques of postmetaphysical ethics to his dialogues with intellectual giants like Marx, Mead, Husserl, and Rawls. Contributors interrogate his theories of communicative action, democratic statehood, and ideology critique, applying them to urgent contemporary challengesincluding the rise of authoritarian populism and transformations in the digital public sphere.

This volume not only deepens our understanding of Habermas's legacy but also reaffirms his relevance for contemporary debates on modernity, democracy, and rationality. With contributions from the most respected voices in the field, this volume is a vital publicationone that promises to inspire and shape scholarly discourse across philosophy, sociology, and political theory.

Brings together leading scholars in philosophy, sociology, and political theory Provides a multifaceted and authoritative exploration of Habermas's thought Addresses issues such as authoritarian populism, the digital public sphere, and the role of public intellectuals

Autorentext

Amirhosein Khandizaji holds a PhD in Sociology from the Free University of Berlin, Germany. His primary area of research is the critical theory of the Frankfurt School. He is the author of The Victory of Instrumental Reason and Farewell to Variety (2013), Baudrillard and the Culture Industry (2017), and editor of Reading Adorno: The Endless Road (2019). He is also the co-author of David Riesman and Critical Theory (2021), co-editor of Adorno's Shadow: A Lasting Legacy (2025), and Revisiting Marcuse: Critical Reflections and New Perspectives (2025). He is also the founding editor of the Berlin Journal of Critical Theory.

James J. Chriss is Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Cleveland State University, USA. His main areas of interest are social control, law and society, sociological theory, and criminological theory. His latest book is Social Control: An Introduction (3rd edition 2022).

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Between Dialogue and Empathy: On Multiple Sources of Moral Agency after Habermas.- Chapter 3: On the Ontological Content of Morality: A Critique of Habermas and the Postmetaphysical Turn.- Chapter 4: Habermas and the Tasks of Contemporary Philosophy.- Chapter 5: Reconceiving Emancipation: Habermas's Critique of Marxian Monism.- Chapter 6: Heller, Abendroth, & Habermas: Communicative Action Between Plebiscitary Democracy and Social Statehood.- Chapter 7: Habermas, Mead, Husserl: A Triadic Exploration.- Chapter 8: What the controversy over 'the reasonable' reveals: on Habermas's Auch eine Geschichte der Philosophie.- Chapter 9: The Last Public Intellectual?: Jürgen Habermas in the Digital Public Sphere.