Axel Honneth's Social Philosophy of Recognition: Freedom, Normativity, and Identity
This book presents a reconstruction of the trajectories of freedom in Axel Honneth’s recognition theory in the context of the conflict between autonomy and social cohesion. Honneth’s re-appropriation of Hegel’s notion of Sittlichkeit, or “ethical life,” provides a potent descriptive theoretical perspective of social conflicts and an articulated praxis of Hegel’s social theory. Amidst the current critical literature posed against the normative aspect of Honneth’s critical theory, there is an already implicit solution to the problem of normativity and reification. By articulating the conflict between freedom and normativity as both a pathological problem and a progressive movement in critical theory, the theme of solidarity is further reinforced in the development of Honneth’s social philosophy.
Through the consolidation of the process of recognition, and the spheres of social interaction where individuals develop, reinforce, and build their identities, it is possible to develop a reverse analysis of a complementary system of social interactions between personal relations, market economy, and democratic spheres to identify deficiencies in societal needs. The book proposes the Reconstructive Normative Simulation (RNS) to consolidate Honneth’s social philosophy. Through RNS, it is possible to examine social pathologies by locating deficiencies in normative resources in the three social spheres. By articulating these deficiencies, the possibility of adjusting societal norms becomes historically bound to existing norms, while at the same time receptive to forthcoming identities.
Roland Theuas DS. Pada is a faculty member of the Department of Philosophy of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, having received an MA and PhD in Philosophy from the same university. He is also a Research Fellow from the Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities at the University of Santo Tomas, and is the managing editor of Kritike: An Online Journal of Philosophy (www.kritike.org).
"[R]eaders who are uninitiated with Honneth or with his recognition theory will find in Pada’s book a helpful tool to get acquainted with the fundamental arguments, hermeneutic structure as well as the basic grammar and vocabulary of Honneth’s ethico-political thought. [...] Pada’s text is a serious philosophic work which requires focus, deliberation and an expansive interpretive range. In his first foray into international book publication, Pada tried to establish himself as a reputable recognition theory scholar proven no less by his ability to navigate through Honneth’s extensive oeuvre. [...] Recognition is a relatively novel theme in the Philippine intellectual scene. Pada, along with his fellow critical theory scholars, should be acknowledged for espousing this as a way of promoting the more vital causes of freedom and justice."
Jovito V. Cariño Kritike 12/1 (2018)
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