How to criticize? On Honneth’s method

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

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How to criticize? On Honneth’s method. / Carleheden, Mikael.

In: Distinktion, Vol. 22, No. 3, 2021, p. 299-318.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Carleheden, M 2021, 'How to criticize? On Honneth’s method', Distinktion, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 299-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100

APA

Carleheden, M. (2021). How to criticize? On Honneth’s method. Distinktion, 22(3), 299-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100

Vancouver

Carleheden M. How to criticize? On Honneth’s method. Distinktion. 2021;22(3): 299-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100

Author

Carleheden, Mikael. / How to criticize? On Honneth’s method. In: Distinktion. 2021 ; Vol. 22, No. 3. pp. 299-318.

Bibtex

@article{1ac59e70af13416489b7a5d5db645002,
title = "How to criticize?: On Honneth{\textquoteright}s method",
abstract = "This article investigates the meaning and role of social critique in the social sciences. This form of theorizing has always been a significant part of the social sciences. Due to the scientific ideal of value neutrality, however, the manner in which social criticism is conducted is seldom discussed. I claim that the value-neutrality ideal rests on a conception of normative subjectivism that can be challenged by turning to some notion of practical reason. However, there is no need to turn to any strong notion of reason; instead, I use the term {\textquoteleft}normative reasoning{\textquoteright}. The main question posed in the article then becomes: What is it that we do when we reason in a normative manner in the social sciences? The first part of the article addresses Axel Honneth{\textquoteright}s {\textquoteleft}Grand Social Theory of Modernity{\textquoteright} in Freedom{\textquoteright}s Right. His procedure in the book is treated as a significant case of normative reasoning. I investigate his method of {\textquoteleft}reconstruction{\textquoteright} by comparing it primarily to the methods of {\textquoteleft}construction{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}genealogy{\textquoteright}. The second part of the article is a critical discussion of Honneth{\textquoteright}s method of normative reasoning. My main criticism is that, despite his intentions, his procedure is overly constructivist in the sense that it prevents a disclosure of ongoing transformations of ethical life. In the conclusion, I argue for a pluralistic methodology; different ways of normative reasoning should be used to solve different kinds of normative problems.",
keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Axel Honneth, Critical theory, Immanent critique, Normative reasoning, Method, Reconstruction, Social criticism, Theorizing, Axel Honneth, critical theory, immanent critique, normative reasoning, method, reconstruction, social criticism, theorizing",
author = "Mikael Carleheden",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100",
language = "English",
volume = "22",
pages = " 299--318",
journal = "Distinktion",
issn = "1600-910X",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - How to criticize?

T2 - On Honneth’s method

AU - Carleheden, Mikael

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This article investigates the meaning and role of social critique in the social sciences. This form of theorizing has always been a significant part of the social sciences. Due to the scientific ideal of value neutrality, however, the manner in which social criticism is conducted is seldom discussed. I claim that the value-neutrality ideal rests on a conception of normative subjectivism that can be challenged by turning to some notion of practical reason. However, there is no need to turn to any strong notion of reason; instead, I use the term ‘normative reasoning’. The main question posed in the article then becomes: What is it that we do when we reason in a normative manner in the social sciences? The first part of the article addresses Axel Honneth’s ‘Grand Social Theory of Modernity’ in Freedom’s Right. His procedure in the book is treated as a significant case of normative reasoning. I investigate his method of ‘reconstruction’ by comparing it primarily to the methods of ‘construction’ and ‘genealogy’. The second part of the article is a critical discussion of Honneth’s method of normative reasoning. My main criticism is that, despite his intentions, his procedure is overly constructivist in the sense that it prevents a disclosure of ongoing transformations of ethical life. In the conclusion, I argue for a pluralistic methodology; different ways of normative reasoning should be used to solve different kinds of normative problems.

AB - This article investigates the meaning and role of social critique in the social sciences. This form of theorizing has always been a significant part of the social sciences. Due to the scientific ideal of value neutrality, however, the manner in which social criticism is conducted is seldom discussed. I claim that the value-neutrality ideal rests on a conception of normative subjectivism that can be challenged by turning to some notion of practical reason. However, there is no need to turn to any strong notion of reason; instead, I use the term ‘normative reasoning’. The main question posed in the article then becomes: What is it that we do when we reason in a normative manner in the social sciences? The first part of the article addresses Axel Honneth’s ‘Grand Social Theory of Modernity’ in Freedom’s Right. His procedure in the book is treated as a significant case of normative reasoning. I investigate his method of ‘reconstruction’ by comparing it primarily to the methods of ‘construction’ and ‘genealogy’. The second part of the article is a critical discussion of Honneth’s method of normative reasoning. My main criticism is that, despite his intentions, his procedure is overly constructivist in the sense that it prevents a disclosure of ongoing transformations of ethical life. In the conclusion, I argue for a pluralistic methodology; different ways of normative reasoning should be used to solve different kinds of normative problems.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Axel Honneth

KW - Critical theory

KW - Immanent critique

KW - Normative reasoning

KW - Method

KW - Reconstruction

KW - Social criticism

KW - Theorizing

KW - Axel Honneth

KW - critical theory

KW - immanent critique

KW - normative reasoning

KW - method

KW - reconstruction

KW - social criticism

KW - theorizing

U2 - 10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100

DO - 10.1080/1600910X.2020.1779100

M3 - Journal article

VL - 22

SP - 299

EP - 318

JO - Distinktion

JF - Distinktion

SN - 1600-910X

IS - 3

ER -

ID: 242356649