Habermas grounds universalizing reason in the dialogical structure of communication.

Evidence

While Habermas is more than willing to admit what he calls ‘the deformed realization of reason in history’ and the dangers that attach to the simplified imposition of some meta-narrative on complex relations and events, he also insists that ‘theory can locate a gentle, but obstinate, a never silent although seldom redeemed claim to reason, a claim that must be recognized de facto whenever and wherever there is to be consensual action.’ He, too, turns to the question of language, and in The theory of communicative action insists upon the dialogical qualities of human communication in which speaker and hearer are necessarily oriented to the task of reciprocal understanding. Out of this, Habermas argues, consensual and normative statements do arise, thus grounding the role of universalizing reason in daily life. It is this that allows ‘communicative reason’ to operate ‘in history as an avenging force.’ — David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity, 356

Categorization

• XREF: Defines the Habermasian counter-position that will matter for the reader’s comparison of rival periodization accounts. — connects to: The Theory of Communicative Action originated in 1977 German political crisis — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism: A Marxist…, 376; Communication succeeds only through shared contextual beliefs that cannot be fully formalized; Dialogic interactions create open, critical, constructive spaces for negotiating differing ideas toward consensus — ‘Dialogic scaffolding’: Enhancing learning and understanding in collaborative contexts (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Communication succeeds only through shared contextual beliefs that cannot be fully formalized #qualifies (0.75)
• Communication constitutes reality rather than merely representing it #expands (0.72) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 382