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Jürgen Habermas

Public Intellectual and Engaged Critical Theorist
Brief Description
Jürgen Habermas is Germany's most important postwar philosopher, the leading figure of the Frankfurt School in this period. He is best known for the concept of the public sphere, which forms the basis of his communicative understanding of democratic politics. Habermas has not only theorized the... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$13600

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This book provides a new understanding of Jürgen Habermas by focusing on his work as a public intellectual, showing how he has shaped debates far beyond the ivory tower.

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

Jürgen Habermas is Germany's most important postwar philosopher, the leading figure of the Frankfurt School in this period. He is best known for the concept of the public sphere, which forms the basis of his communicative understanding of democratic politics. Habermas has not only theorized the public sphere-he has also taken part in it through frequent commentary on current social, political, and cultural issues. Yet since Habermas's extensive public-facing writings have been overlooked, his philosophy has often been criticized as apolitical.

This book transforms our understanding of Habermas by focusing on his work as a public intellectual, showing how he has shaped debates far beyond the ivory tower. Peter J. Verovšek argues that while Habermas maintains a strict separation between his academic and his public-facing writings, he has also ensured that these two aspects of his work are part of a consistent whole. The book highlights the development of Habermas's views over time and the changing nature of his public interventions. His early political writings focused on questions tied to the particular situation of postwar West Germany, but since 1989 he has increasingly turned his attention to the future of Europe and global politics more broadly. Verovšek sheds light on the interrelationship between Habermas's participation in the public sphere and his theoretical work, demonstrating that his political engagement is crucial to understanding his philosophy. In a moment when public debate is under threat, this book offers timely new insight into Habermas's lifelong project of defending the public sphere-both in theory and in practice.

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  • Jürgen Habermas
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780231213035

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 March 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Columbia University Press

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 432

About the Author

Peter J. Verovšek is senior assistant professor in history and theory of European integration at the University of Groningen. He is the author of Memory and the Future of Europe: Rupture and Integration in the Wake of Total War (2020).

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