> From: Les Schaffer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date sent: Mon, 25 May 1998 14:44:20 -0400 (EDT) > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [PEN-L:221] Re: In Defense of History > Send reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> I like the way H distinguishes communicative from instrumental > >> (or strategic) action. The latter is the way the sciences and > >> economics operate - their objective is to describe a state of > >> affairs out there in order to achieve success or mastery of the > >> world. Communicative action aims at reaching shared > >> understanding about norms. > > i dont understand this distinction because i dont know what a norm is > in this context (or what normative means, for that matter). > > ************ > norm - (L. norma, carpenter's square, rule ...) a standard, model, or > pattern for the group. You are right to raise this point. There are two more `actions' in Habermas: Dramaturgical and Normative Action. Leave the former aside, normative actions cannot be judged in terms of how adequately they achieve a technical interest. Rather they are judged in terms of how adequately they conform to the beliefs of a particular community. Within communicative action, however, the person is said to be able to relate *reflectively* to the normative world around. ricardo > normative - of or establishing a norm or standard. > > ???????????? > ************ > > anyone up for a kindergarten lesson? much obliged.... > > -- > ____ Les Schaffer [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___| ------->> Engineering R&D <<-------- > Theoretical & Applied Mechanics | Designspring, Inc. Westport, CT USA > Center for Radiophysics & Space Research | http://www.designspring.com (soon) > Cornell Univ. [EMAIL PROTECTED] | [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >
