Foucault Contra Habermas

Foucault contra Habermas is an incisive examination of, and a comprehensive introduction to, the debate between Foucault and Habermas over the meaning of enlightenment and modernity. It reprises the key issues in the argument between critical theory and genealogy and is organised around three complementary themes: defining the context of the debate; examining the theoretical and conceptual tools used; and discussing the implications for politics and criticism.

In a detailed reply to Habermas′ Philosophical Discourse of Modernity, this volume explains the difference between Habermas′ philosophical practice and Foucault′s between the analytics of truth and the politics of truth. Many of the most difficult arguments in the exchange are subject to a detailed critical analysis. This examination also includes discussion of the ethics of dialogue; the practice of criticism; the politics of recognition , and the function of civil society and democracy.

Samantha Ashenden is Senior Lecturer in Sociology. She has a BA (Hons) Applied Social Science from Kingston University, an M.Phil in Social and Political Theory from the University of Cambridge, and a Ph.D in Sociology from the University of London. She has published on problems of power, authority and legitimacy within constitutional states, the role of expertise in contemporary governance, and on feminist theory and child sexual abuse. She has taught on the London Consortium Ph.D Programme, and at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, as well as at Queen Mary University of London, the University of North London, and Kingston University. Sam is currently Chair of the BA Politics, Philosophy and History. She is the Managing Editor of the journal Economy and Society and is reviews editor for the journal Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy David Owen is lecturer in politics at the University of Southampton. His previous publications include Maturity and Modernity (1994) and Nietzsche, Politics and Modernity (1995). CONTRIBUTORS OUTSIDE WESTERN HEMISPHERE Samanta Ashenden Birkbeck College University of London Paul Connolly University of Ulster Mitchell Dean Macquarrie University Peter Jowers University of the West of England Thomas Osborne University of Bristol Ralph Schroeder Royal Holloway College University of London Nigel South University of Essex Sean Watson University of the West of England Malcolm Waters University of Tasmania