Introduction
Axel Honneth (b. 1949– in Essen, Germany) is the primary figure associated with the third generation of Frankfurt School critical theory (The first generation includes original Frankfurt Institute for Social Research members such as Max Horkheimer, and the second generation is primarily associated with Jürgen Habermas.). Honneth’s work has touched on many themes in social, political, and moral philosophy. He is best known for his theory of recognition and his unique application of that concept to social, political, and moral questions. His most recent work has expanded on his early theory of recognition and developed a powerful new conception of social freedom.
After doing undergraduate and early graduate work at the universities of Bonn and Bochum from 1969 to 1974, Honneth completed his doctoral degree at Free University Berlin in 1982. His dissertation, which was published as The Critique of Power (Honneth 1993), was directed by the sociologist and social philosopher...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Fraser N, Honneth A (2003) Redistribution or recognition? A political–philosophical exchange. Verso, London/New York
Honneth A (1993) The critique of power. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Honneth A (1995) The limits of liberalism: on the political–ethical discussion concerning communitarianism. In: The fragmented world of the social: essays in social and political philosophy. SUNY Press, Albany, pp 231–246
Honneth A (1996) The struggle for recognition. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Honneth A (2007a) The social dynamics of disrespect: on the location of critical theory today. In: Disrespect. Polity Press, Cambridge, pp 63–79
Honneth A (2007b) Moral consciousness and class domination: some problems in the analysis of hidden morality. In: Disrespect. Polity Press, Cambridge, pp 80–96
Honneth A (2014) Freedom’s right: the social foundations of democratic life. Polity Press, Cambridge
Honneth A, Hartmann M (2012) Paradoxes of capitalist modernisation: a research program. In: The I in we: studies in the theory of recognition. Polity Press, Cambridge/Malden, pp 169–190
Honneth A, Joas H (1988) Social action and human nature. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York
Honneth A et al (2008) Reification: a new look at an old idea. Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York
Willig R (2012) Grammatology of modern recognition orders: an interview with Axel Honneth. Distinktion Scand J Soc Theory 13:145
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Science + Business Media B.V., Dordrecht.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Berendzen, J.C. (2023). Honneth, Axel. In: Sellers, M., Kirste, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6519-1_269
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6519-1_269
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6518-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6519-1
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences