Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
AKRA International Journal of Culture Art Literature and Educational Sciences, cilt.14, sa.38, ss.601-618, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
ANALYZING THE STRUCTURE AND POSSIBILITIES OF AXEL
HONNETH'S “RECOGNITION THEORY” APPROACH
Abstract: Recognition is a problem related to the establishment of the individual's
self within the family, society and the state. Therefore, the problem of recognition is
the main starting point of debates on modernity/postmodernity, rationalism/metaphy-
sics and many other issues. In our study, Axel Honneth's Recognition Theory, which
claims to bring a theoretical framework and a practical solution to these debates, is
evaluated. This evaluation is made within the framework of its position in conceptual
debates, the differences and possibilities it brings. Honneth, who takes the concept of
recognition as a “super-category” and sees it as the only adequate concept to explain
struggle and self-construction, constructs his theory by interweaving psychology, phi-
losophy and sociology. Honneth's thought, on the one hand, is imbued with Hegelian
roots, and on the other hand, he draws on Habermas's communicative view of reason.
Honneth aims to continue the tradition of Critical Theory by bridging the gap between
theory and practice.
Keywords: Critical theory, Frankfurt school, Recognition, Habermas, Axel Hon-
neth.