The 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.

Format: Hardback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2021
Publisher: Columbia University Press

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. In the years that followed, Habermas and Luhmann further elaborated on their disagreement, sparking a controversy that divided social theorists. Their debate presented two fundamentally divergent views of society and the capabilities of systems theory to explain it.

This book, the first in English on the Habermas-Luhmann debate, is a comprehensive analysis by Gorm Harste. It traces the debate from its inception to Habermass most recent works, exploring key issues such as methodology, ideology, truth, history, and politics. Harste contextualizes their positions in the context of each philosopher's response to the legacy of Nazism and their efforts to establish a foundation for an antitotalitarian politics. He follows the evolution of the debate as it touched upon political questions such as the rule of law, the separation of powers, human rights, individualization, and secularization.

Harste emphasizes the convergence between Habermas and Luhmann, highlighting the shared concerns and insights they brought to the study of society. He argues that social theorists must unite these two formative accounts of contemporary society to develop a more comprehensive understanding of our complex social world.

In conclusion, the Habermas-Luhmann debate is a seminal and ongoing conflict in social theory. This book provides a valuable exploration of the debate, offering insights into the contrasting viewpoints of Habermas and Luhmann and their contributions to social thought. By uniting these two accounts, social theorists can advance our understanding of society and work towards building a more just and equitable world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231159142