Research on Habermas’s Thought on the Relationship Between Right and Power

Li Bo

doi:10.11648/j.hss.20210901.12

Abstract

How to accurately grasp the relationship between right and power is one of the core propositions of political philosophy, and is also a theoretical issue that Habermas has always paid great attention to. By studying Habermas’s thought of the relationship between right and power, we can not only deeply understand the basic concepts of his political philosophy, but also explore the way of thinking to safeguard civil rights and balance political power. Compared with traditional political philosophy, it is not difficult to find that Habermas neither advocates the separation of right and power as liberals, nor advocates the absolute integration of the two as republicans. In his view, the right to be the outcome of citizens’ spontaneous interaction must rely on coercive political power to enter into force. At the same time, political power can only obtain the legitimacy of existence in accordance with the principle of “people’s sovereignty” of the discourse theory, and this legitimacy foundation is precisely reflected in the right system of communication cycle. In short, right and power restrict each other and depend on each other, and they present an isomorphic relationship with moderate tension. Obviously, this view is a historical advance of political philosophy and has great theoretical and practical value.

Highlights

As a philosopher with a strong sense of social responsibility, Habermas has brought the issue of the relationship between right and power closely related to social and political practice into his theoretical vision since the beginning of his academic career
As opposed to the views of traditional liberals or republicans, Habermas thinks that right is neither a pure individual “human right” nor the “popular sovereignty” in the category of absolute collectivism, but a social relationship based on the discourse theory that can stipulate the mutual obligations and responsibilities between different subjects
On the basis of summarizing the lessons learned from past theories, Habermas transcends the one-dimensional thinking mode of liberalism and republicanism, completes the reconstruction of the relationship between right and power, and creates a new situation for the development of political philosophy

Summary

Introduction

As a philosopher with a strong sense of social responsibility, Habermas has brought the issue of the relationship between right and power closely related to social and political practice into his theoretical vision since the beginning of his academic career. As opposed to the views of traditional liberals or republicans, Habermas thinks that right is neither a pure individual “human right” nor the “popular sovereignty” in the category of absolute collectivism, but a social relationship based on the discourse theory that can stipulate the mutual obligations and responsibilities between different subjects. On this basis, Habermas further points out that there is neither a huge gap between right and power, nor an unbounded integration between them and they are reflected in an isomorphism relationship that is both interdependent and mutually restrictive. It is the popularity of this concept that has caused the repeated occurrence of democratic chaos in history, which has caused human society to pay a heavy price for development

Habermas’s Thought on the Relationship Between Right and Power

The Legitimate Existence of Power Depends on Right

Conclusion