Rethinking the Normative Content of Critical Theory

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

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2. Introduction

   1. Introduction

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 1-7

3. Part I

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 9-9

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   2. From Self-Constitution to Self-Objectification

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 11-26

   3. Marx’s Critique of Political Economy versus his Critique of Capitalism

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 27-47

   4. The Capitalization of Labour and the Sociality of Exchange

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 49-65

   5. Marx, Morality and Exploitation

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 67-87

4. Part II

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89

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   2. Communicative Action

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 91-115

   3. Labour and Morality

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 117-133

   4. Struggles for Moral Redemption

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 135-156

   5. Struggles for Social Welfare

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 157-180

   6. Concluding Remarks

      • Bob Cannon

      Pages 181-186

5. Back Matter

   Pages 187-211

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Marxism's chief failing is its substitution of a labour theory of value for the struggles of the labour movement. Consequently, Marxism rests on transhistorical categories that are vulnerable to his own critique of political economy. Jurgen Habermas and Axel Honneth seek to correct this by placing critical theory on a normative foundation. Unfortunately, they restrict this to the cultural sphere. By extending their notion of intersubjectivity to the economic system it can be viewed as an inactive form of morality which social movements influence in the course of their struggles.

• capitalism
• critical theory
• Jürgen Habermas
• Karl Marx
• Marx
• Marxism
• Moral

• University of East London, UK

  Bob Cannon

BOB CANNON is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of East London.

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