I wrote a little Habermas piece for the Guardian. The Frankfurt School is not a „school“, and its headmaster is not dead…
The philosopher, who has died aged 96, was often caricatured as a consensus-seeking liberal. But his belief in the need for shared understanding had a radical underpinning, says German philosopher Eva von Redecker
Thank you for portraying Habermas and giving context on light and shadow!
"At least according to Habermas, we misunderstand what communication is if we do not accept that besides all strategic aims, it also seeks to establish a certain shared understanding."
As a feedback: I have to admit that I didn't get the concept of 'reification'.
Something about humans as objects, but I also understand that it is difficult to explain several philosophical contexts, and the person of Habermas in one short piece. Maybe it is more clear for others...
I'll investigate.
PD: in German leftist circles, when dudes come up citing the Frankfurter Schule, one rolls one's eyes and prepares for an almost inevitable long monologue of wannabe-political philosophy that ends usually with the justification of the war crimes in Gaza. Thank you for referring to this, covers to 100% my lived experience.
Eva von Redecker
Earthworm 🐌