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Last updated February 19, 2001

Explanation of Theory:HCT is an ideal, moral, competency-based, communication theory for human action.

Theorists: Jurgen Habermas

Date:1964

Primary Article:Habermas, J. (1964). The public sphere: An encyclopedia article (D. Lennox & F. Lennox, 
Trans.). New German Critique, 3(Fall), 49-55.
 

Individual Interpretations:HCT creates an ideal through shared knowledge, mutual trust, and accord with each other represented by an idealized speech situation.
 

Metatheoretical Assumptions:

Ontological Assumptions:n/a
 

Epistemological Assumptions:n/a
 

Axiological Assumptions:n/a
 

Critique:HCT is a good theory because it derives from a consistently formulated theoretical position. It contains a long list of research and makes sense to the reader.  Also, implications for other inquiries are made.
 

Ideas and Implications:HCT is important because it creates this ideal through shared knowledge, mutual trust, and accord with each other represented by an idealized speech situation.
 

Example:You may feel powerless during the national elections because so many political candidates are associated with lobbying and money.  You may feel that even if you had the power, you have little time-given the demands of work and/or school – to engage in public discussion of such issues as health care, gun control, and euthanasia. 
 
 

Relevant Research:McCarthy, Thomas A. (1979). The critical theory of Jurgen Habermas. Cambridge: M.I.T. Press.
Roderick, Rick (1986). Habermas and the foundations of critical theory. New York: St. Martin's.
Young, Robert E. (1990). A critical theory of education : Habermas and our children's future. 
New York: Teachers' College Press.
Related www link: 
http://www.phy.nau.edu/~danmac/habcritthy.html
 

Location in Eight (8) Primary Communication Theory Textbooks:

     Anderson, R., & Ross, V. (1998). Questions of communication: A practical introduction to theory (2nd ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press.  284-287

     Cragan, J. F., & Shields, D.C. (1998). Understanding communication theory: The communicative forces for human action. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 301-305

     Griffin, E. (2000). A first look at communication theory (4th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. 393-404

     Griffin, E. (1997). A first look at communication theory (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. 407-417

      Infante, D. A., Rancer, A. S., & Womack, D. F. (1997). Building communication theory (3rd ed.). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. 410-415

      Littlejohn, S. W. (1999). Theories of human communication (6th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 230-234

      West, R., & Turner, L. H. (2000). Introducing communication theory: Analysis and application. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield. N/A

       Wood, J. T. (1997). Communication theories in action: An introduction. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. N/A