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Rainer Forst and Axel Honneth Discuss Jürgen Habermas's Legacy

opinion-review · 2026-06-18

In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, social philosophers Rainer Forst and Axel Honneth, both former students of Jürgen Habermas, discuss their teacher's intellectual legacy and personal quirks. The conversation covers Habermas's occasional misjudgments and his enduring influence on critical theory and social philosophy. Forst and Honneth reflect on Habermas's role as a public intellectual and his contributions to discourse ethics and deliberative democracy. The interview offers insights into the relationship between the philosopher and his disciples, highlighting both admiration and critical distance.

Key facts

  • Rainer Forst and Axel Honneth were students of Jürgen Habermas.
  • The interview was published by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  • The discussion includes Habermas's occasional errors.
  • The conversation addresses Habermas's intellectual legacy.
  • Forst and Honneth are social philosophers.
  • The interview covers Habermas's role as a public intellectual.
  • Habermas is known for discourse ethics and deliberative democracy.
  • The interview reflects on the teacher-student relationship.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Süddeutsche Zeitung

Locations

  • Germany

Sources