A Comparative Study Of Rawls 'and Habermas' Rational Ideas

Long-term and extensive researches given by the academia to the theories of Rawls and Habermas, both of whom are the most important contemporary political philosophers, have exerted a far-reaching influence on the development of political and philosophical theories. A discussion as well as an argument about theories between Rawls and Habermas once took place and not only viewpoint differences towards many problems such as democracy, justice and legality etc. but also the inherent contradictions of their respective theories were exposed by the latter one. All in all, both theories of Rawls and Habermas have inherited the long traditions of western rationalism, and their theoretical differences can also be concluded as their understanding differences of reasonable concepts. Rawls wishes that the reasonable concept he uses are limited to the political domains and point to his justice view as well while the reasonable concept of Habermas, which are namely communicative reason, mean that the process of communicative behavioral activities as well as the legality of consequences of communicative activities is to be guaranteed by using strict procedures. As far as this article concerns, although the understandings of Rawls and Habermas are different, there are still many similarities between the reasonable concept they use. What’s more, the comparison and study of the reasonable concept of Rawls and Habermas can help us gain a better introspection and understanding of the political and philosophical theories of these two philosophers as well.