Von der Geschichtsphilosophie zur Formalpragmatik: Zur Geschichte und Gegenwart Kritischer Theorie

The current debate about the normative foundations of critical theory can only be understood in the light of its history: The deficits in the concepts of the 1st and 2nd generation structure the field of options that can still be considered promising today. Looking back sharpens the view ahead. In the first part of the paper, therefore, I will present the main theses, ethical implications and one-sidedness of Horkheimer’s Eclipse of Reason. In the second part, I will discuss the assumption of Habermas, that the non-instrumental telos of understanding is inherent in language. Moreover, I will show that Habermas does not succeed in deriving the principle of universalization that is central to his discourse ethics. In the third part I will discuss, how the justification problems at Horkheimer and Habermas affect the current debate.