Toward a Rational Society: Student Protest, Science and Politics

by Juergen Habermas, Jeremy J. Shapiro (Translator)

Knowledge, communication, action – These are the concepts central to all of Habermas's thought. As a philosopher, he is concerned with the rational connections of these concepts. As a sociologist, he is prepared to analyze with care the distortions of human interactions caused by existing social and political institutions. 
In a series of connected essays, the author assesses the function of the contemporary university, and sharply analyzes contemporary students and their political efforts.
He then brilliantly analyzes as a communications model the relationships between research institutes and the political agencies which employ them. The book concludes with a complex discussion of technology and science as an "ideology," dedicated to Herbert Marcuse.
Critical parts of Marcuse's thought, Habermas dissects contemporary democratic dialogue and offers an important preliminary sketch of a general theory of social evolution. 
He analyzes the difference between the technological sphere of control and the practical sphere of communication and interaction as the basic feature of human social life, and explains how and why the predominance of the technological sphere is the distinguishing and alienating characteristic of advanced industrial society. The concepts of depoliticization and the freeing of communication emerge as the crux of today's political situation.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Sociology, Politics

142 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1970

Reviews

[Mehrsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book nourished my ideas sooo much !
I wrote a personal essay about the role of democracy on public health educational systems;
Thankss dear Juergen😍💕
https://medium.com/@Mehrsa.MD/between...

[Michael Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last article in the collection is fantastic.

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a great way to read something like “continental philosophy of science” without having to read knowledge and human interests. the first three are remarkably accessible for habermas, the last three, regular dense and obfuscating prose. in any case it’s deeply fascinating how habermas takes a historically specific approach to what it means to master technology in his time, and how we can be conscious of its deployment for particular ends, rather than leave the decision to the military. i think the soil of today is fertile for a new kind of positivist dispute but this time we die to AI overlords. don’t expect too much marxism in this book, he’s into democracy an inordinate amount

[Mariam Rawwas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Habermas tackles the university qua Ideological State Apparatus, examining its complicity with capital via outlays in technics, and the effect this has at the level of thought. In this sense, it rather reminds me of Derrida's Eyes of the University. While Habermas is often troped as liberal and simplistic, here at least he is attune to the machinations of ideology, not taking the possibility of "pure" communication for granted.

[Βενιαμίν · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of this was like ‘awh, wouldn’t it be nice if things could be this way’

Last essay is very, very good. Habermas’ premonitions on technology have sadly aged like a fine wine

“The growth of productive forces is not the same as the intention of the ‘good life’. It can at best serve it.”

[Brisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

?????????????

[Mary Karpel-Jergic · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only!