The Paradox of Deliberation: Jürgen Habermas and the Rational Approach to the Normative Theory of Democracy
Ian Clark R. Parcon: Ateneo de Davao University
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.13185/BUDHI2022.26202Published Date: Mar 22, 2023 | Accepted Date: Mar 22, 2023 | Submitted Date: Mar 22, 2023
Abstract
Jürgen Habermas anchors his theory of democracy on communicative rationality, which he translates into procedural rationality geared towards the attainment of consensus. In this study, I present his theory of democracy and discuss its limitations. I then argue that for a more comprehensive theory of democracy, the insights from other theories, specifically, the agonistic perspective of Chantal Mouffe, should be seriously taken into account.
Keywords
Jürgen Habermas, deliberative democracy, theory of rationality, communicative rationality, consensus model of democracy
Of Sanskrit origin, the Tagalog word “budhi” is a global notion that symbolizes, rather than represents, at one and the same time, life, intuition, understanding, discernment, conscience, and will.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved