Habermas, empowerment, and professional discourse

Nancy Roundy Blyler Iowa State University

Abstract

This essay uses Jürgen Habermas' theory of communicative action to explore the issue of empowerment. The essay first describes a communicative situation now common in public life, where scientific and technological forces are arrayed against citizenry over concerns with public import. Next, the essay discusses Habermas' critique of communicative practices and his vision of the way in which the technocratic consciousness has usurped communicative action in social life. Third, the essay applies Habermas' theory to the situation previously described, supporting the claim that in such situations empowerment may remain only a communicative ideal.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
1994-03-01
DOI
10.1080/10572259409364562
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (8)

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 8 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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