Kant and Darwin? A critical examination of Habermas weak naturalism in the light of free will and determinism problem
Abstract
This article examines Habermas’s weak naturalism, in particular, his discussion of the problem of free will and determinism. Habermas challenges the reductionist aspect of strong naturalism on the basis of an epistemological dualism —one he considers unsurpassable— between the perspectives of the observer and the participant of a dialogue, but he accepts the search for a monist vision of reality. However, although Habermas’s attempt to expand the constrained vision of nature is welcomed, this paper offers a critique of his position due to the vagueness in his way of understanding the relation between philosophy and science and his attempt —however weak— to naturalize reason, by trying to bring together Kant with Darwin.Downloads
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