Francesco Leone
Università degli Studi di Bari
francescoleone1985@libero.it
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to retrace the philosophical developments of Axel Honneth’s social theory after his rediscovery of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. In Freedom’s Right, Honneth’s original normative theory of society based on recognition leaves room for a normative theory of institutions grounded on the concept of social freedom. Honneth uses the Hegelian methodological procedure of normative reconstruction to develop a theory of justice based on social analysis. The resort of a teleological philosophy of history makes possible the normative reconstruction and justify the developments of societies. In The Idea of Socialism, Honneth revamps and updates the socialist project, highlighting the connection between socialism and social freedom. In this way, socialism becomes the idea for realizing a future better form of life and brings the institutionalized normative principles of social freedom towards the future. Nevertheless, the idea of a future democratic form of life intended by Honneth contains some criticalities, which concern his Eurocentric perspective and an overly prominent functional role of the democratic public sphere.
Keywords: Honneth; Theory of Justice; Moral Progress; Socialism; Eurocentrism.