The universal validity claim which binds the West to its 'basic political values,' that is, to the procedure of democratic self-determination and the vocabulary of human rights, must not be confused with the imperialist claim that the political form of life and the culture of a particular democracy - even the oldest one - is exemplary for all societies...
It was precisely American pragmatism that made insight into what is in each case equally good for all parties contingent on reciprocal perspective taking. The 'reason' of modern rational natural law is not instantiated by universal 'values' that one can own like goods, and distribute and export throughout the world. 'Values' - including those that can count on winning global recognition - do not float in mid-air, but acquire binding force only within the normative orders and practices of particular cultural forms of life.
The Divided West, 2006
Thursday, February 15, 2007
A Message from Jürgen Habermas
Just a little reminder:
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5 comments:
Sweet guy that i am i got my wife a copy of Cosmopolitanism by Appiah for Valentines Day.(she acted happy?) The subtitle Ethics in a world of Strangers says it all. How far we have strayed!
That's beautiful, Trotsky. You brought a tear to my eye.
It was precisely American pragmatism that made insight into what is in each case equally good for all parties contingent on reciprocal perspective taking.
God, that's bad writing. Is that what he's famous for, or what?
Or was that translated from German? I suppose with some commas, a "dass" and a little subjunctive, it could fly.
Yup, Habermas isn't known for his prose. Translated from the German, though.
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