Science, Hermeneutics, and the Utopian Content of the Liberal-Democratic Tradition on Habermas' Recent Work. A Reply to Mendelson

Abstract

Jack Mendelson's careful review of Gadamer/Habermas debate (in NGC, 18 (1979) attempts to make a case for a hermeneutically enlightened version of critical theory. Its central objective is to argue for a version of critical theory which can be understood as a theoretically informed immanent of traditions which prevail in societies in which critique arises and which it seeks to transform (1979. p. 44). He mentions Habermas' early work as an example and states correctly that earlier concept of democratic public realm feeds into his later formulations concerning communication free from domination (ibid. p. 71). Mendelson believes (and he thinks Habermas would agree) that democratic ideals still persist under conditions of late capitalism. He states therefore: the entire apparatus of constitutions, elections, parties and parliaments which embodies democratic ideals still has a living presence in late capitalist societies. This tradition or set of traditions can therefore still serve as a