The Theory of Communicative Action
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The Theory of Communicative Action, a major work by Jürgen Habermas, posits that human interaction is fundamentally communicative, aiming for mutual understanding and agreement rather than strategic self-interest. This theory, developed within the Frankfurt School tradition, distinguishes between communicative rationality and instrumental or strategic rationality.12
Habermas argues that genuine understanding is achieved through uncoerced communication, where claims are validated by the "unforced force of the better argument". An "ideal communication community" serves as a regulative ideal, guiding and critiquing real-world discourse by emphasizing reason and evidence.12
However, Habermas notes that in modern capitalist societies, institutions like family and politics can become dominated by strategic, rather than communicative, rationality, prioritizing economic efficiency and administrative power over mutual understanding. This work has significantly influenced fields such as communication studies, sociology, and political science.1
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