The forstian bargain: overrationalizing the power of reasons. Issue 2 (4th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kettner, Matthias
• Is Part Of: Journal of political power. Volume 11:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2018-05-04
• Subjects: Power -- discourse -- reason -- justification -- rationalism -- Noumenal Power Theory (NPT); Power (Social sciences) -- Periodicals; Power (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; 303.305
• DOI: 10.1080/2158379X.2018.1479039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2158-379X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Focusing on differences in Rainer Forst's and my otherwise similar discourse theoretical approaches to power and reason, I argue that Forst's equating all power with "noumenal" (i.e. reasons-mediated) power - the "Forstian bargain" - is flawed and should be resisted. For Forst, reasons are justifiers. This ignores reasons' multiple rational forces. I propose to respecify "fully noumenal" power as a particular form of power, "discourse-power", the power of reasoners to uphold or to modify via acts of discursive argumentation their convictions about the genuine value of their reasons.