Ethical Life, Growth, and Relational Institutions: Intersubjectivity, Freedom, and Critique

Giladi, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8934-3602 (2021) Ethical Life, Growth, and Relational Institutions: Intersubjectivity, Freedom, and Critique. Etica e Politica/Ethics and Politics, 23 (2). pp. 233-253. ISSN 1825-5167

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to argue that there are two important positive connections between Hegel and Dewey, and that these important positive connections form the basis of a critical theory in a broad sense: (i) social processes and modern institutions are structured for the purposes of fostering the development of subjectivities that help individuals achieve self-realization; and (ii) social processes and modern institutions are assessed in terms of how well (if at all) they enable the development of unique subjectivities that help individuals achieve self-realization. Following Axel Honneth, I argue that there is compelling reason to suppose Hegel’s notion of Sittlichkeit and Dewey’s notion of democracy have significant critical dimensions.