Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law & Democracy

Habermas, Jurgen; Rehg, William (translator)

ISBN 10: 0262082438 / ISBN 13: 9780262082433

Published by MIT Press, 1996

About this Item

Hardcover book with dust jacket that has slight shelf edge wear, no highlighting or margin notes in the text, but does have former owner's name and date on the first free end page and neat blue ink underlining of the text on pages 85-86 with a blue ink star in the margin on page 85. This book is a major contribution to recent debates on the rule of law and the possibilities of democracy in postindustrial societies. It offers a sweeping, sociologically informed conceptualization of law and basic rights, a normative account of the rule of law and the constitutional state, an attempt to bridge normative and empirical approaches to democracy, and an account of the social context required for democracy. Finally, it frames and caps these arguments with a bold proposal for a new paradigm of law that goes beyond the dichotomies that have afflicted modern political theory from its inception and that still underlie current controversies between so-called liberals and civic republicans. Original German edition was published in 1992. Out-of-print hardcover. box 77.

Seller Inventory # 009108

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law & Democracy
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0262082438
• ISBN 13: 9780262082433
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Philosophy

About this title

Synopsis

In Between Facts and Norms Jurgen Habermas works out the legal and political implications of his Theory of Communicative Action (1981), bringing to fruition the project announced with his publication of The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere in 1962. This new work is a major contribution to recent debates on the rule of law and the possibilities of democracy in postindustrial societies, but it is much more.

The introduction by William Rehg succinctly captures the special nature of the work, noting that it offers a sweeping, sociologically informed conceptualization of law and basic rights, a normative account of the rule of law and the constitutional state, an attempt to bridge normative and empirical approaches to democracy, and an account of the social context required for democracy. Finally, the work frames and caps these arguments with a bold proposal for a new paradigm of law that goes beyond the dichotomies that have afflicted modern political theory from its inception and that still underlie current controversies between so- called liberals and civic republicans.

The book includes a postscript written in 1994, which restates the argument in light of its initial reception, and two appendixes, which cover key developments that preceded the book.

Habermas himself was actively involved in the translation, adapting the text as necessary to make it more accessible to English-speaking readers.

Review

′Rich, important ... proceeding through the magisterial scrutiny of theoretical approaches in law, sociology, philosophy and politics, it offers plenty for students of these disciplines to chew on.′ Times Higher Education Supplement

′A significant development of his theory ... Rehg′s translation of Between Facts and Norms is clear and precise and his Introduction helpful.′ British Journal of Sociology

′In Between Facts and Norms, Habermas offers an inspiring and intellectually stimulating diagnosis of the predicament of modern law ... his contribution will undoubtedly have a lasting influence on this crucially important debate.′ Democratization

′For at least a generation Jurgen Habermas′s work has made a significant impact on a variety of important debates in philosophy and the social sciences. Between Facts and Norms ... brings together many of Habermas′s earlier concerns and weaves them into a comprehensive and brilliant critical theory of actually existing democracy. From the perspective of the discipline of politics this is undoubtedly Habermas′s most important work. Of course, Habermas′s work is dense, challenging and incredibly broad in its range. It is also controversial, and this work will certainly not win over his most trenchant critics. None of this amounts to a valid excuse to ignore it. This book really is essential reading for anyone who is interested in exploring at depth the possibilities of realizing a genuinely democratic future.′ Political Studies

′Such a scholarly intensity deserves to be read at first hand.′ Sociology, Ian Roberts, Univerisity of Durham

′Eleven Years after his monumental Theory of Communicative Action (1981), Jürgen Habermas has again presented an opus magnum.′ Otfried Höffe, Universität Tübingen, Mind

Jürgen Habermas has been awarded the prestigious ′Friedenspreis des deutschen Buchhandels′ prize for 2001