Habermas-Luhmann Debate

Jürgen Habermas and Niklas Luhmann, two prominent German philosophers and sociologists, engaged in a lengthy and divisive debate fifty years ago, culminating in their 1971 book Theory of Society or Social Technology. This book explores the debate between Habermas and Luhmann, examining their differing views on meaning, communication, consensus, and dissent. Harste contextualizes their positions in the aftermath of Nazism and highlights their convergence on political questions such as the rule of law, separation of powers, human rights, individualization, and secularization. He emphasizes the need for social theorists to unite these two influential accounts of contemporary society.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 424 pages
\n Publication date: 31 August 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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Fifty years ago, two influential German philosophers and sociologists, Jürgen Habermas and Niklas Luhmann, engaged in a profound and contentious debate that would span decades. Their coauthored 1971 book, Theory of Society or Social Technology, laid out their contrasting viewpoints on meaning, communication, consensus, and dissent, ultimately shaping the foundations of modern social thought. Over the years, Habermas and Luhmann further elaborated on their disagreement, sparking a controversy that divided social theorists. Their differing views presented two fundamentally divergent perspectives on society and the capabilities of systems theory to explain it.

This groundbreaking English book delves into the Habermas-Luhmann debate, tracing its origins from its inception to Habermass most recent works. It explores a range of issues, including methodology, ideology, truth, history, and politics. Gorm Harste contextualizes their positions within the context of each philosopher's response to the legacy of Nazism and their quest to establish a foundation for an antitotalitarian politics. Harste follows the evolution of the debate, as it touched upon political concerns such as the rule of law, separation of powers, human rights, individualization, and secularization.

In the end, Harste highlights the convergence between Habermas and Luhmann, emphasizing the urgent need for social theorists to unite these two influential accounts of contemporary society. The Habermas-Luhmann debate continues to be a vital and lively field of study, as social theorists seek to understand the complexities of human interaction and the dynamics of social systems.

\n Weight: 580g\n
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231159159\n \n