The Politics of Care in Habermas and Derrida: Between Measurability and Immeasurability

“Ganis’s book on the politics of care in Habermas and Derrida is a lucid study of an important topic. He analyzes the idea of care in Habermas, Derrida, and Honneth and brings to bear the insights of two different traditions in a fruitful and insightful manner. This is an important book, because the idea of care, though much discussed, is used in so many different senses that the literature has become fragmented in too many different loosely related debates. Ganis unites these into a coherent and well focused study.” ―James Gordon Finlayson, University of Sussex

“This is simply an outstanding book! It is superlatively researched and documented. The author wears lightly an extensive, deep and sophisticated understanding of the primary and secondary literature. While it aims to bring Habermasian discourse ethics into dialogue with Derridian deconstructionist ethics, the work is more than a simple orchestrated juxtaposition. In a masterful way, Ganis provides us with overviews of the generative thinking of these titans of modern moral philosophy that are as sweeping as they acute. Neophytes will find this book an useful point of entry into what both traditions or currents-as represented by both thinkers named in the title-can learn from each other; but experts will walk away with nuggets of insights, useful synopsis, and proving questions that make the respective perspectives shine in their best light.” ―Eduardo Mendieta, Pennsylvania State University

“This book addresses a point of tension between the thought of J^D:urgen Habermas and Jacques Derrida regarding care morality in both the political and ethical arenas. Ganis (Lahore Univ. of Management Sciences, Pakistan) wants to expand the positions of each philosopher through the thought of the other but argues that a rapprochement is not feasible. Instead, he attempts to carve out a position that conceives of critical theory as more accommodating to an ethics of care while still preserving its privileging of universalistic moral rights and duties. The argument is laid out in five chapters focused on the advances and failings of an ethics of care as seen through Habermas and Derrida. Each chapter addresses a specific aspect of care, ranging from its relationship to justice through conceptions of care as gift to care for nature and care as a principle of measure. While criticizing both Habermas and Derrida, Ganis ultimately leans more toward the Habermasian perspective and provides more support from other commentators on Habermas’s work. Only limited discussion of feminist theories of care is included. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers.” ―Choice