Jurgen Habermas: Discourse Ethics and the Development of a Contemporary Christian Ethic

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to introduce the reader to the person and work of social philosopher and social theorist Jürgen Habermas. It introduces pertinent aspects of Habermas's biography, and surveys a portion of his library of writings. It then explains Habermas's communication theory, specifically his theory of communicative action. Then, Habermas's theory of discourse ethics is introduced and explicated. This thesis culminates with an examination of the appropriateness and applicability of Habermas's theory of discourse ethics for the development of a contemporary Christian ethic.</p>