Have any of you heard of ...

[JohnLocke]

Have any of you heard of Jürgen Habermas?

[TahitiNut]

1. Discourse Ethics?

A meta-ethical viewpoint somewhat at odds with Rawls'. As I understand it, Habermas posits a universality of morality, extending the (ambitious) individual moral context perspective of Kant's Categorical Imperative. The inherent presuppositions of universality, at least as I see them, are not adequately vetted for my tastes. (But I'm merely a dabbler, not a true student.)

[Mikimouse]

2. Critical Social Theory

n/t

[WillyBrandt]

3. Some say he'll be the only political philosopher

of our time to be remembered in 500 years. At least my very astute German friend says so, though I think national affiliation is interfering with his judgment. (I would say that John Rawls is the only one that's going to be remembered. Not only because of the quality of his ideas, but for the sheer packaging of them in a single book. For instance, imagine if Hobbes has propounded the same ideas and arguments over 10 books instead of in the brilliant Leviathan. He wouldn't be remembered.)

Anyway, I believe Habermas is known as the unofficial philosopher of the Social Democrats in Germany

[aldian159]

4. Leviathan was great

never thought I'd be talking Hobbes on DU...

[WillyBrandt]

5. It's absolutely brilliant

Take out the religious part. I've read maybe 40% of the secular part: it's sheer genius. As Hobbes would say:

What is the role of the Student that sees the construxion of a Systeme of reasoning from the low and particular to the Whole and Righte? To stand in Awe of a Braine singular and, verily, Perfect.

[WillyBrandt]

6. Kick: We must speak of Hobbes!

[JohnLocke]

7. Hobbes??

Hobbes believed in absolute monarchary...we're all Democrats, no?