Jürgen Habermas's "Moral Consciousness and Communicative Action" argues that moral intuitions arise from universal normative presuppositions inherent in social interaction, rather than tradition. The book reconstructs a "discourse ethics" that offers a procedure for impartially judging normative claims, replacing Kant's categorical imperative with reasoned agreement in practical discourse. It connects communicative ethics to social action theory by examining social psychology research on moral development.
The work integrates social sciences, philosophy, and ethics, presenting a theory of justice derived from practical discourse. Readers will understand how fundamental moral intuitions are rooted in the interactive requirements of competent agents across societies.
Key concepts
- Discourse ethics — A method to reconstruct a moral point of view for impartial judgment of normative claims.
- Normative presuppositions of social interaction — The underlying requirements for competent agents to engage in social interaction.
- Procedure of justification — A method replacing Kant's categorical imperative, based on reasoned agreement in practical discourse.
- Communicative action — The theory that underpins moral intuitions derived from social interaction.