The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society (The Theory of Communicative Action, Vol1)

A major contribution to contemporary social theory. Not only does it provide a compelling critique of some of the main perspectives in 20th century philosophy and social science, but it also presents a systematic synthesis of the many themse which have preoccupied Habermas for thirty years. -- Times Literary Supplement Contents ......Page 4 Translator’s Introduction ......Page 6 I. Introduction: Approaches to the Problem of Rationality ......Page 39 1. “Rationality” – A Preliminary Specification ......Page 50 2. Some Characteristics of the Mythical and the Modern Ways of Understanding the World ......Page 85 3. Relations to the World and Aspects of Rationality in Four Sociological Concepts of Action ......Page 117 4. The Problem of Understanding Meaning in the Social Sciences ......Page 144 II. Max Weber’s Theory of Rationalization ......Page 184 1. Occidental Rationalism ......Page 198 2. The Disenchantment of Religious-Metaphysical Worldviews and the Emergence of Modern Structures of Consciousness ......Page 227 3. Modernization as Societal Rationalization: The Role of the Protestant Ethic ......Page 257 4. The Rationalization of Law. Weber’s Diagnosis of the Times ......Page 284 III. Intermediate Reflections: Social Action, Purposive Activity, and Communication ......Page 313 IV. From Lukacs to Adorno: Rationalization as Reification ......Page 378 1. Max Weber in the Tradition of Western Marxism ......Page 384 2. The Critique of Instrumental Reason ......Page 405 Notes ......Page 439 Index ......Page 495 "The Theory of Communicative Action represents a major contribution to contemporary social theory. Not only does it provide a compelling critique of some of the main perspectives in 20th century philosophy and social science, but it also presents a systematic synthesis of the many themes which have preoccupied Habermas for thirty years." (Times Literary Supplement) -- Publisher V. 1. Reason And The Rationalization Of Society -- V. 2 Lifeworld And System: A Critique Of Functionalist Reason. Jürgen Habermas ; Translated By Thomas Mccarthy. Translation Of: Theorie Des Kommunikativen Handelns. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Offers a systematic reconstruction of the theoretical foundations and framework of critical social theory.