Between facts and norms: action research in the light of Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action and discourse theory of justice¹

Abstract

An emphasis on democracy is typical of action research. Therefore, theories of modern democracy can be applied within the field of school development through action research. According to Jürgen Habermas, the promotion of democratic will formation requires the promotion of free and rational communicative action that is as free from manipulation as possible. Under ideal communicative conditions, consensus is achieved dialectically through the force of a better argument. The principles of rational argumentation have been developed in detail in Habermas's publications on discourse ethics and in The Theory of Communicative Action. He has recently developed his approach in a book entitled Between Facts and Norms, to which theorists of action research have so far paid little attention. In this book, Habermas examines the possibilities for bridging the gap between actual norms and social acceptance of norms in modern society. In traditional society there was no gap between the facticity and the validity of a norm. In modernity, by contrast, a norm is considered valid only if it has been agreed on in free communication between all parties concerned. Action research can support the formation of communication mechanisms that advance collective discursive will-formation. In this sense, Habermas's recent theorising offers interesting viewpoints on action research.