Habermas’s procedural discourse theory fails by denying that democracy needs an ethos

Evidence

This last point is very important, since it forces us to acknowledge something that the dominant liberal model is unable to recognize, namely, that a liberal-democratic conception of justice and liberal-democratic institutions require a democratic ethos in order to function properly and maintain themselves. This is, for instance, precisely what Habermas’s discourse theory of procedural democracy is unable to grasp because of the sharp distinction that Habermas wants to draw between moral-practical discourses and ethical-practical discourses. — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 316

Categorization

• XREF: Positions against Habermas’s discourse ethics — a key rival in the reader’s agonistic-theory map. — connects to: Habermas made democracy an explicit radical standard rather than a client-pleasing concession; Habermas restricts moral philosophy to procedural justification, leaving substance to citizens — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism: A Marxist…, 424; Deliberative democracy fails without material equality among participants — Luke W. Cole and Sheila R. Foster, From the Ground Up: Environmental…, 522 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Working democratic procedures require an underlying democratic ethos rather than standing alone #corroborates (0.97) — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 315
• Habermas restricts moral philosophy to procedural justification, leaving substance to citizens #expands (0.85) — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 424
• Habermas made democracy an explicit radical standard rather than a client-pleasing concession #qualifies (0.75)
• Deliberative democracy fails without material equality among participants #complicates (0.72) — Luke W. Cole and Sheila R. Foster, From the Ground Up, 522