On the Pragmatics of Communication

This volume brings together Habermasa s key writings on language and communication. Including some classic texts as well as new material which is published here for the first time, this book is a detailed and up--to--date introduction to Habermasa s formal pragmatics, which is a vital aspect of his social theory. Written from 1976 to 1996, the essays show the extent to which formal pragmatics underpins Habermasa s theory of communicative action. They are presented in chronological order, so that the reader can trace developments and revisions in Habermasa s thought. The volume includes a critical discussion of Searlea s theory of meaning, and Richard Rortya s neopragmatism. It concludes with Habermasa s recent defence of his theory of communicative action, in which he reaffirms his view that interpretative understanding inescapably involves evaluation. This book will be an indispensable text for students and academics who want a clear and accessible introduction to the development of Habermasa s theory of communication and its relation to his broader social and political theory.