Toward a Rational Society: Student Protest, Science, and Politics

by Jürgen Habermas, Jeremy J. Shapiro (Translator)

Universities must transmit technically exploitable knowledge. That is, they must meet an industrial society's need for qualified new generations and at the same time be concerned with the expanded reproduction of education itself. In addition, universities must not only transmit technically exploitable knowledge, but also produce it. This includes both information flowing from research into the channels of industrial utilization, armament, and social welfare, and advisory knowledge that enters into strategies of administration, government, and other decision-making powers, such as private enterprises. Thus, through instruction and research the university is immediately connected with functions of the economic process.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Sociology, Politics

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1970

About the author

Jürgen Habermas was a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and American pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his work on the concept of the public sphere, the topic of his first book entitled The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. His work focuses on the foundations of social theory and epistemology, the analysis of advanced capitalistic societies and democracy, the rule of law in a critical social-evolutionary context, and contemporary politics—particularly German politics. Habermas's theoretical system is devoted to revealing the possibility of reason, emancipation, and rational-critical communication latent in modern institutions and in the human capacity to deliberate and pursue rational interests.

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!