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Between Facts and Norms

Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Between Facts and Norms presents Jürgen Habermas’s profound exploration of the legal and political consequences of his critical theory. He examines the tension between the factual and normative dimensions of law, and ties this to the development of modern constitutional states and democratic legitimacy. The book argues for a proceduralist democracy, highlighting the crucial role of civil society and public discourse in ensuring that law-making processes reflect ordinary citizens’ concerns. It is a pivotal work in contemporary social and political theory, offering deep insights into the challenges faced by pluralistic societies.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for scholars and students of social and political theory, sociology, philosophy, and law, as well as those interested in democratic theory and constitutional studies. It suits readers seeking a deep, theoretical understanding of democracy’s foundations and the role of law in pluralistic societies.

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aeo This is Habermasa s long--awaited work on law and democracy. aeo It develops a distinctive account of the nature of law and an original concept of democracy. aeo As one of Habermasa s most important works, it will be recognized as a major contribution to current debates in social theory, political theory, and philosophy.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In Between Facts and Norms, Habermas works out the legal and political implications of his theoretical approach, bringing to fruition the project announced more than three decades ago in The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. Between Facts and Norms is a major contribution to current debates on the role of law and the prospects for the development of democracy in contemporary societies.

Habermas develops a distinctive account of the nature of law, arguing that law is characterised by an internal tension between factual and normative aspects. He links this account to a broader argument concerning the formation of the modern constitutional state and the role of democratic deliberation as a means of securing the legitimacy of legal norms in complex, pluralistic societies.

Habermas develops a proceduralist conception of democracy which emphasises the importance of citizens organising themselves in informal associations and voicing their concerns in a variety of public settings. If the formal processes of law-making in modern societies are to sustain their legitimacy, they must be capable of taking account of the concerns of ordinary citizens.

In our complex, pluralistic societies, the legitimacy of political decision-making processes depends on a robust civil society and a vibrant public sphere. Between Facts and Norms is an outstanding work by one of the most important social and political thinkers of our time. It will be a focal point of debate for many years to come in the fields of social and political theory, sociology, politics, and philosophy.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Described as rich and important by the Times Higher Education Supplement, the book offers rigorous analysis spanning law, sociology, philosophy and politics. The British Journal of Sociology praises the clear and precise translation alongside an informative introduction. Democratization commends it as an intellectually stimulating diagnosis of modern law’s challenges, forecasting a lasting influence. The work is recognised as Habermas’s most significant contribution to political theory, weaving earlier ideas into a comprehensive critique of democracy.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780745620114

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 August 1997

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 37.0mm

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 227.0mm

Weight: 1021g

Pages: 636

About the Author

Jürgen Habermas is a German philosopher and sociologist in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theories on communicative rationality and the public sphere. In 2014, Prospect readers chose Habermas as one of their favourites among the "world's leading thinkers".

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