A Study Of Honneth's Reification Theory

Reification,the core concept of critical theory,has been playing an important role in the development of critical theory.At the same time,it has attracted the attention of philosophers and social theorists,and explored by them to varying degrees.The concept of reification thus has presented a variety of different connotations.As the leader of the third generation of the Frankfurt School,Honnth has tried to analyze the contradictions of modern capitalist society,reconstruct the reification theory under the background of new era,and give a new meaning to the concept of reification.In his book Reification,Honneth has analyzed the achievement of the reification theories of Senior thinkers from the perspective of his theoretical construction,especially for the study of the thought about Lukács,Heidegger,Adorno,and Haberrmas.It has further contributed to the construction of Honneth's reification theory.However,what we need to make clear is that the real starting point of Honneth's reification theory is Lukács.It is precisely on the basis of criticizing Lukacs' s reification theory,especially his analysis of the concept of reification,Honneth has found the basis of his theory.Starting from Lukács 's reification criticism,he has integrated and developed the ideas of Heidegger,Adorno and Habermas,and established his own reification critical theory based on the theory of recognition as a normative basis of reification theory.In Honneth,reification is the result of mutual denial among the subjects,that is to say to refuse recognition,which means that reification is the forgetfulness of recognition.Thus,Honneth has further pointed out that reification is the forgetfulness to prior recognition.This kind of forgetfulness occurs between people and others,between people and objects,and between people and themselves.It can be seen that the central premise of Honneth's reification is to “forget recognition”.More specifically,it is to forget the prior recognition and to forget the relationship of sympathy and participation with oneself,others,and the world.Honneth has started from the concept of recognition,demonstrated the priority of recognition and explored the social roots of reification.Thus,the building of his reification theory has been basically constructed.However,this does not mean that the critique of reification has been accomplishment,because before the real realization of democracy and freedom,reification theory will continue to show its critical dimension.