Theory and Practice

Theory and Practice is one of Habermas's major works and iswidely recognized as a classic in contemporary and social andpolitical theory. Through a series of highly original historical studies, Habermasre-examines the relations between philosophy, science and politics.Beginning with the classical doctrine of politics as developed byAristotle, he traces the changing constellation of theory andpractice through the work of Machiavelli, More, Hobbes, Hegel andMarx. He argues that, with the development of the modern sciences,politics has become increasingly regarded as a technical disciplineconcerned with problems of prediction and control. Politics hasthus lost its link with the practical cultivation of character,that is, with the praxis of enlightened citizens. Theory and Practices includes a major re-assessment ofMarx's work and of the status of Marxism as a form of critique. Inan important concluding chapter Habermas examines the role ofreason and the prospects for critical theory in our modernscientific civilization.