Beyond Habermas without forgetting Habermas: the need to think critically about universalisms

Abstract

In this paper, immersed in two of the traditions that give body to critical thinking (the Frankfurt School and intercultural critical thinking), we propose to develop some guidelines to continue pondering on a necessary and
renewed universalism. To develop this objective, we will delve into some of Habermas’ central categories of thought as well as some of the criticism they received. Habermas is a good starting point, since in addition to overcoming
the pessimistic and catastrophic vision of the first generation of the Frankfurt School on the future of humanity, going beyond instrumental and strategic
reasons, with the emergence of communicative action, he installs a transformative, universal rationality, in which the link between actors and speakers will play a fundamental role. The goal is not to replace his universalism, nor to deny
it, but to make it more complex.