The Ends of Solidarity: Discourse Theory in Ethics and Politics

by Max Pensky

Jürgen Habermas's discourse theory demands that human beings see themselves in relations of solidarity that cross national, racial, and religious divides. While his theory has won adherents across a spectrum of contemporary debates, the required vision of solidarity has remained largely unexplored. In The Ends of Solidarity, Max Pensky fills this void by examining Habermas's theory of solidarity, while also providing a comprehensive introduction to the German philosopher's work. Pensky explores the impact of Habermasian discourse theory on a range of contemporary debates in politics and ethics, including the prospect of a cosmopolitan democracy across national borders; the solidarity demanded by the integration process in the European Union; the demands that immigration dynamics make on inclusive democratic societies; the divisive or unifying effects of religion in Western democracies; and the current controversies in genetic technology.

276 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Ft. Sheridan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of Habermas through the lens of the concept of solidarity.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pensky navigates through the massive Habermas corpus using a (weak) concept of solidarity as his guide.