* A major contribution to scholarship on Hegel, moral philosophy and critical theory* An original approach from a well known author, moving smoothly between philosophy and social theory* Draws together a wide variety of themes and concerns. .

Translator's Note. Translator's Introduction. Preface. Introduction. Part I: An Alternative Tradition in Modern Social Theory: Hegel's Original Idea:. 1. The Struggle for Self-Preservation. 2. Crime and Ethical Life. 3. The Struggle for Recognition. Part II: A Systematic Renewal: The Structure of Social Relations of Recognition:. 4. Recognition and Socialization. 5. Patterns of Intersubjective Recognition. 6. Personal Identity and Disrespect. Part III: Social-philosophical Perspectives: Morality and Societal Development:. 7. Traces of a Tradition in Social Philosophy. 8. Disrespect and Resistance. 9. Intersubjective Conditions for Personal Integrity. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

In this major book, Honneth argues that the 'struggle for recognition' is and should be at the center of social conflicts. Honneth examines the arguments put forward by Hegel in his Jena writings and situates them against the background of modern philosophy's conception of human life as a struggle for existence. He shows how the notion of the struggle for recognition changes in Hegel's work as he moves from an intersubjective paradigm to one based on consciousness. Drawing on Marx, Sorel and Sartre, he examines the importance of the struggle for recognition and of the moral basis of interaction in human conflicts. Finally, he discusses the relation between the recognition model and conceptions of modernity, the normative basis of social theory, and the possibility of mediating between Kant and Hegel. The Struggle for Recognition draws together a wide variety of themes and concerns, moving smoothly between moral philosophy and social theory. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in this central aspect of Hegel's thought and, more broadly, in critical theory and social philosophy.

"Using the young Hegel's 'struggle for recognition' as a basis, Honneth ... has written a remarkable book. Honneth's book is accessible to - and deserving of - a wide readership. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above and the general reader." Choice "This is a most remarkable book. The exposition and critical discussion are conducted with exemplary clarity. It may change intellectual lives; it will certainly attract a great deal of attention for many years to come." William Outhwaite, University of Sussex "This far-ranging study illuminates one of the most important and puzzling features of modern politics, the demand for recognition. Honneth not only traces its origins in the thought of the last two centuries, but also shows how differently the need for recognition has been conceived. Honneth's book casts a flood of light on what has been an area of darkness, the place where the philosophical tradition and modern politics meet and interweave. Since neither is really comprehensible without the other, this work is essential reading for those who would understand either. It is a path-breaking study, which ought to be at the centre of the debate for many years to come." Charles Taylor, McGill University "Axel Honneth's The Struggle for Recognition is remarkable for the skill with which he synthesizes a wide range of perspectives - sociological, psychoanalytical and philosophical - into a powerful and original model of social identity and social conflict. It represents a major step towards the development of a new 'post-linguistic' paradigm for critical theory." Peter Dews, University of Essex "The Struggle for Recognition is an ambitious and rewarding book, at the intersection of a number of important debates." Radical Philosophy "Honneth's book should attract a wide audience ... [it] represents a major contribution to an exciting new research programme in critical social theory." Political Studies "[A] clearly written and impressively structured amalgamation of political thought, social psychology, and current social philosophy." Simon Kow, University of Toronto