Occidental civilization and its problems : a dialogue between Weber, Elias and Habermas
This thesis starts with an analysis of Weber's thought. Weber's analysis of occidental civilization is multidimensional. Weber attempts to provide a judgement about the value of occidental civilization for the improvement of human welfare which is more differentiated and more balanced, and therefore neither overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic. Opposed to some commentators' misunderstanding that his viewpoint about occidental civilization is too pessimistic, Weber's viewpoint is actually an heroic one. Weber conceives value differentiation and value irreconcilability as the natural outcomes of societal rationalization. He suggests that his heroic pessimism provides a viable way to confront this impasse of occidental civilization. While I appreciate Weber's attempt to provide a differentiated and balanced view about occidental civilization, I argue that his work is empirically inadequate in certain regards and is not critical enough concerning the solutions to the problems generating in occidental civilization. Therefore his work needs to be reconstructed and corrected. Elias and Habermas's works provide valuable resources for this task. In fact, an analysis of Weber's. work provides a good starting point
Li, Patrick
Occidental civilization and its problems : a dialogue between Weber, Elias and Habermas. This thesis starts with an analysis of Weber's thought. Weber's analysis of occidental civilization is multidimensional. Weber attempts to provide a judgement about the value of occidental civilization for the improvement of human welfare which is more differentiated and more balanced, and therefore neither overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic. Opposed to some commentators' misunderstanding that his viewpoint about occidental civilization is too pessimistic, Weber's viewpoint is actually an heroic one. Weber conceives value differentiation and value irreconcilability as the natural outcomes of societal rationalization. He suggests that his heroic pessimism provides a viable way to confront this impasse of occidental civilization. While I appreciate Weber's attempt to provide a differentiated and balanced view about occidental civilization, I argue that his work is empirically inadequate in certain regards and is not critical enough concerning the solutions to the problems generating in occidental civilization. Therefore his work needs to be reconstructed and corrected. Elias and Habermas's works provide valuable resources for this task. In fact, an analysis of Weber's. work provides a good starting point
civilization problem dialogue weber habermas start analysis weber thought weber analysis civilization multidimensional weber attempt_provide judgement value civilization improvement human welfare differentiate balance therefore neither overly optimistic overly pessimistic opposed commentator misunderstand viewpoint civilization pessimistic weber viewpoint actually heroic weber conceive value differentiation value natural outcome societal suggests heroic pessimism provide viable way confront impasse civilization appreciate weber attempt_provide differentiate balanced view civilization argue work empirically inadequate certain regard critical enough concern solution_problem generate civilization therefore work need reconstruct correct habermas work provide_valuable resource task fact analysis weber work provide_good start_point