Suchergebnisse

Reflections on moral development are offered, focusing on Jurgen Habermas's (1990) attempt to locate morality in the institutionalization of reflective, public discourse, & arguing that Habermas's effort is problematized by the way in which ego identity is constituted intersubjectively. The role played by recognition in social relationships is explored via a critique of Jessica Benjamin's (1988) challenge to the notion that moral maturity is synonymous with ego independence, a notion Benjamin claims arises from a psychoanalytic model that identifies autonomy with domination & associates maleness with autonomy. By dismissing the notion of autonomy, Benjamin also rejects Habermas's moral theory. A way of bridging the intellectual divide between Habermas & Benjamin by development of Axel Honneth's concept of respect is proposed. It is shown that this concept can clarify the structure & preconditions for realizing noncoercive relationships of mutual recognition in intersubjective political & social spheres. W. Howard