A formal recognition of social attachments: Expanding Axel Honneth's theory of recognition

Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 50 (2):180 – 205 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Axel Honneth draws a distinction between three types of recognition: (1) love, (2) respect and (3) social esteem. In his The Struggle for Recognition, the recognition of cultural particularity is situated in the third sphere. It will here be argued that the logic of recognition of cultural identity also demands a non-evaluative recognition, namely a respect for difference. Difference-respect is formal because it is a recognition of the value of a particular culture not "for society" or "as such", but for the social group involved. Yet, although it is formal, difference-respect cannot be reduced to respect for personal autonomy and its preconditions, as Honneth wrongly suggests in Redistribution or Recognition? It is argued here that difference-respect is oriented towards another dimension of the person, namely social attachments. This kind of respect entails a separate register of formal recognition with a corresponding concept of personal identity and a parallel category of social disrespect. What morally justifies difference-respect from a recognition-theoretic approach is the practical relation-to-self that thus becomes possible, namely self-respect as a sense of belonging. The formal conception of the good life that Honneth articulates should include the insight that this sense of belonging is as much a necessary condition for the good life as is personal autonomy.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 98,293

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Being Oneself in Another: Recognition and the Culturalist Deformation of Identity.Radu Neculau - 2012 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 55 (2):148-170.
Recognition, Suffering and Refugees.Gottfried Schweiger - 2021 - Critical Horizons 22 (4):351-369.
The Theory of Recognition in the Frankfurt School.Timo Jütten - 2018 - In Axel Honneth, Espen Hammer & P. Gordon (eds.), The Routledge Companion to the Frankfurt School. Routledge. pp. 82-94.
Anerkennung und Freiheit.Anita Horn - 2018 - Archiv für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie 104 (1):16-40.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
142 (#140,466)

6 months
14 (#189,554)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Bart Richard Van Leeuwen
Radboud University