Norm And Self-realization:On Honneth’s Recognition Theory And Its Contemporary Significance

Honneth’s recognition theory is one of the important achievements of Frankfurt School’s critical theory.It relies on the basic framework of Hegel’s recognition theory,combines Marxist content on social struggle and recognition,draws lessons from Mead’s social psychology and Foucault’s power theory.The deepening and development of Frankfurt School’s social critical theory,especially Habermas’ s communicative behavior theory,is realized.The theme of the thesis: Honneth’s recognition theory and its significance to the theoretical innovation of contemporary historical materialism.Based on the in-depth study of Honneth’s works and other scholars’ works on Honneth,this paper expounds the theoretical background and theoretical origin of Honneth’s recognition theory,and generalizes the basic contents of Honneth’s recognition theory: as the three recognition modes of self-actualization,as the motive force of striving for recognition —— three contempt modes,norms as the institutional achievements of recognition,the fundamental goal of recognition is to achieve multiple justice and social freedom.Finally,on the basis of dialectical analysis of Honneth’s recognition theory,this paper deeply analyzes the practical significance of Honneth’s recognition theory to the theoretical innovation of contemporary historical materialism.In the demarcation and demonstration of the three different recognition relationships of love,legal power and unity,Honneth mainly presents it through three links: how to establish ethical principles,how to produce emotional experience and how to construct self-practice relationship.Contempt is the internal motive force of recognition of development.It is the existence of contempt relationship in real life that promotes the development of recognition.The institutional achievements of each era constitute the norms of this era.The development of history is manifested in the continuous progress of norms.The fundamental goal of recognition theory is to realize pluralistic justice and social freedom,fully respect and realize the free and full development of each individual.Honneth’s recognition theory is of great positive significance to the theoretical innovation of contemporary historical materialism.The high development of contemporary social productive forces has dual effects: it not only promotes social progress,but also makes the phenomenon of "materialization" of people’s spiritual life increasingly prominent.The formation of modern perfect personality can not be separated from the moral practice of striving for recognition.We should not only affirm the priority of productive forces in social development,but also attach great importance to the positive role of recognized norms in the improvement of personality and the free development of individuals.The innovation of this paper lies in the following two aspects.first of all,focusing on the latest development of Honneth’s recognition theory,combining Honneth’s theory of pluralistic justice and social freedom to explain Honneth’s recognition theory.In order to fully explore the rich connotation of Honneth’s recognition theory.Secondly,the theory of recognition is closely related to the theory of historical materialism,and the theory of recognition is deeply considered from the point of view of historical materialism,on the premise that productivity is the fundamental motive force of historical development.It is of great significance to affirm the importance of the recognition theory of Honneth to the emphasis of norms.