Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy
A critical theory of controversy would require the integration ofthe normative study of argumentation with critical studies of practices. Jiirgen Habermas has made a substantial contribution to such a project by embedding argumentation in a theory of communication, while critically engaging academic...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Windsor
2004-01-01
|
| Series: | Informal Logic |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://informallogic.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2163 |
| _version_ | 1798044061705175040 |
|---|---|
| author | G. Thomas Goodnight |
| author_facet | G. Thomas Goodnight |
| author_sort | G. Thomas Goodnight |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A critical theory of controversy would require the integration ofthe normative study of argumentation with critical studies of practices. Jiirgen Habermas has made a substantial contribution to such a project by embedding argumentation in a theory of communication, while critically engaging academic and public debates. This essay explicates core concepts in Habermas's theory of argumentation, including his distinction between theory and practice, the different validity requirements for argumentation in general, the norms of moral and ethical-political argumentation and of bargaining. Argument predicaments are posited as ways to discover and assess different types of validity
claims competing as "the force ofthe better argument". Habermas's criticism of "administrative power" and "communicative power" illustrates a potential yield of critical inquiry into social controversy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:57:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b248955bb3c04e03aeb2534c7c369f1b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0824-2577 2293-734X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:57:36Z |
| publishDate | 2004-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Windsor |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Informal Logic |
| spelling | doaj.art-b248955bb3c04e03aeb2534c7c369f1b2022-12-22T03:58:22ZengUniversity of WindsorInformal Logic0824-25772293-734X2004-01-0123210.22329/il.v23i2.2163Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of ControversyG. Thomas GoodnightA critical theory of controversy would require the integration ofthe normative study of argumentation with critical studies of practices. Jiirgen Habermas has made a substantial contribution to such a project by embedding argumentation in a theory of communication, while critically engaging academic and public debates. This essay explicates core concepts in Habermas's theory of argumentation, including his distinction between theory and practice, the different validity requirements for argumentation in general, the norms of moral and ethical-political argumentation and of bargaining. Argument predicaments are posited as ways to discover and assess different types of validity claims competing as "the force ofthe better argument". Habermas's criticism of "administrative power" and "communicative power" illustrates a potential yield of critical inquiry into social controversy.https://informallogic.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2163communicationargumentHabermassocial theorycontroversydiscourse ethics |
| spellingShingle | G. Thomas Goodnight Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy Informal Logic communication argument Habermas social theory controversy discourse ethics |
| title | Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy |
| title_full | Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy |
| title_fullStr | Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy |
| title_short | Predicaments of Communication, Argument, and Power: Towards a Critical Theory of Controversy |
| title_sort | predicaments of communication argument and power towards a critical theory of controversy |
| topic | communication argument Habermas social theory controversy discourse ethics |
| url | https://informallogic.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2163 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gthomasgoodnight predicamentsofcommunicationargumentandpowertowardsacriticaltheoryofcontroversy |