Public reason: an approach to Jürgen Habermas' political philosophy

Abstract

This paper examines Jürgen Habermas' political philosophy, from Kant's ideal of public use of reason. It is argued here that this ideal is the common thread between his initial work on communicative action, modern public sphere, and his most recent contributions on deliberative democracy. The possibility of such ideal, however, entails a duty to ensure the procedural and material conditions for reciprocal recognition, justice and solidarity between people.