THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE SOCIETY
JURGEN HABERMAS
is a German philosopher and sociologist.
His works addresses communicative rationality and public sphere
COMMUNICATIVE RATIONALITY or COMMUNICATIVE REASON
Is a theory or set of theories which describes human rationality as a necessary outcome of
successful communication.
Clarifying the norms and procedures by which agreement can be reached, and is a
therefore view of reason as a form of public justification.
PUBLIC SPHERE
Is an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal
problems.
Like PUBLIC DEBATE which is defined as the expression of views on matters that are of
concern to the public – often, but not always with opposing with opposing or diverging views
being expressed by the participants in the discussion.
KINDS OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP
1. Personal Relationship
2. Transactional Relationship
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Where interactions are based on a mutual regard for each other as person.
Interactions are defined by cooperation rather than by competition.
Focused in the preservation and development of the mutual regard for each other
Treating the other person as a fellow subject (communicative action)
TRANSACTIONAL RELATIONSHIP
Where interactions are based on a regard for each other as means for attaining one’s goals.
Focused on using another person to help one attain his goals or succeed in his plans.
We put aside personal matters in our interactions
The atmosphere is competitive
Treating the other person as an object (instrumental or strategic)
Kinds of Interaction in Society
How one treats the other in the
Social Relation Kind of Interaction
social relationship
As an object, a means for
Transactional Instrumental or Strategic attaining one’s goals (Subject-
object)
Personal Communicative Action As a fellow subject, a fellow
(Intersubjective)
Habermas’ analysis of society pointed out that we need both personal and transactional relationships in
our lives.
• Means that both the instrumental or strategic action and communicative action are important in
the development of individuals and of societies as a whole.
• Means that not all forms of treating the other as an “object” is inherently evil.
• Means that intersubjective and personal relations also have limits in aiding the development of
persons and societies.
To sum up, we need instrumental or strategic action in fulfilling our material needs, just like the lower
species plan strategically in catching their prey, which cannot be delivered by personal and
intersubjective alone.
Sometimes society encounters a problem when one of the two forms of social relations takes
predominance over the other.
Situation 1
A very good friend of yours visits you and your family in your house. Your mother,
delighted by her presence, cooks her best dish for her. Your friend loved the whole lunch that she
kept complimenting your mother for being such a good cook. At the end of the visit, she expresses
her gratitude to the whole family. Before she leaves, she approaches your mother and asks, “How
much do I pay you for the lunch you cooked for me?”
What would be your mother’s reaction to your friend’s gesture?
Situation 2
You are going through a tough time. You feel so down that you need someone to talk to. You
send a text message to your friend asking her if she could come over to make you feel better. Your
friend gives you a call then tells you she will be there in 20 minutes. You are so happy to see her.
You give her a big hug, then pour your heart out. After crying to her for a good 30 minutes, she
gives some comforting words. You finally say that you feel so much better. Your friend then says,
“That’s good to know. Now that we’re done, could you settle my expenses for this – 20 pesos for
the phone call, 35 pesos for the tricycle ride going to your place, 20 pesos for all the tissue paper
you drew from my tissue pack, and 10 pesos for the time I lost to working productively because I
lost to working productively because I had to come here. Thanks.”
What would be your reaction to your friend after she says this?
In the 2 situational examples, in which personal relationships are interpreted as transactional
relationships. There is a misinterpretation of our personal relationships as a mode of interaction
(instrumental or strategic) is used that is inappropriate.
Situation 1: The friend treats an act of generosity and hospitality, w/c are valued and idealized in the
context of intersubjective relationships, as an object or means to attain monetary reward.
Situation 2: The other friend applies the rules or expectations that are applicable only in transactional
relationships like in markets or institutions by assigning market price to gestures and actions that should
be “priceless” in the context of friendship.
COLONIZATION OF THE LIFEWORLD
-encroachment of society on the other society.
Effects of Colonization of the Lifeworld
1. Feelings of alienation arises
2. Social systems become less efficient.
Market, State and Lifeworld
Three Main Spheres
1. Social System of Money (Market or Economic System)
2. Social System of Power (State or the Political System)
3. Lifeworld (Family, School, Religious Communities, Civil Society or the Our Everyday World of
Communicative Relations)
In market and state, relationships are more transactional, and so individuals view each
other as means for a particular goal or end.
Language – medium of money and power
Market
People are linked through currencies of exchange value
Through the use of dominations
Political System
Threats of sanction – penalty for disobeying a law or rule
LOGIC:
The logic of having and not having (economic)
The logic of commanding and obeying (politics)
Disadvantage: The transactional relationships are too narrow that it cannot accommodate other aspects
of a genuine human relationship.
Advantage: Because of its purely transactional they ensure efficiency (in order, organized).
Example: In the market system, that deliver services in the fastest way are those who are not bogged
down by personal issues of those running it.
In political systems who efficiently maintain order through professionalism and objectivity (no
favoritism, no personalizing of issues).
Lifeworld
We naturally assume that all who are part of the community are persons, and must
consciously recognize and treated as such.
- You are expected to treat each other as subjects, no one can take on the role of a calculative
and strategic observer while simultaneously in communication with another.
Lifeworlds thrive on mutual recognition.
- We uphold and respect each other as subjects, as embodied spirits and as a free and
autonomous beings.
- Our social interaction in the lifeworld is marked by cooperative communication.
We connect with one another through shared understandings of what is good and valuable for us.
Through communication, we generate and develop our culture, form and improve our norms such as
laws and policies, and socialize with others as we simultaneously develop our personal identities.
