Bringing Habermas to Memory Studies

• Authors: Michał Łuczewski , paulina Bednarz-Łuczewska , Tomasz Maślanka
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this paper, we attempt to show the fruitfulness of the theory of communicative action for memory studies. Specifically, we intend to demonstrate that concepts characteristic of the discipline, such as “history,” “memory,” and “dialogue,” reflect three types of universal validity claims: “memory” formulates claims to authenticity, “history” formulates claims to truth, and “dialogue” formulates claims to rightness. Thus, it is possible to introduce a seminal Habermasian notion of rationality that rests on validity claims. This notion can serve to integrate, enrich, and identify blind spots in memory studies. Our purpose is to demonstrate the relevance of collective memory to social cohesion (cultural reproduction, social integration, and socialization) and the public sphere (its development and atrophy, rationalization, and colonization).

Keywords

EN

memory studies; Habermas; critical theory; new museology; rationality; public sphere; politics; of the past; European memory

• Publisher: Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne
• Journal: Polish Sociological Review
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 183
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 335-350

Dates

published

2013-09-24

Contributors

author

Michał Łuczewski

• University of Warsaw

author

paulina Bednarz-Łuczewska

• Kozminski University

author

Tomasz Maślanka

• University of Warsaw