Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst

CONFERENCE »The Noumenal Republic: Author meets Critics«

Rainer Forst's latest volume was recently published in English translation by Polity. It is entitled “The Noumenal Republic: Critical Constructivism After Kant” and is available for free download with Open Access. In this book, Forst develops a critical theory after Kant, based on the assumption that all people are born with equal dignity and equal rights. This statement appears to be both normatively irrefutable and empirically incorrect; reality disproves it anew every day - and thus confirms its significance. The truth of this principle can be clarified philosophically by referring back to Kant's idea of a “noumenal republic”, in which every person is subject to the general law, which they also co-construct as legislators. A critical analysis of society and politics must show the extent to which reality makes a mockery of this. Forst's critical theory aims to prevent these perspectives from falling apart into a distant ideal and a diagnosis of hopelessness.

Find the book available for download here:

“The Noumenal Republic: Critical Constructivism After Kant”

A new article by Rainer Forst was recently published in Constellations. It is entitled "The rational critique of social unreason. On critical theory in the Frankfurt tradition" and deals with the concepts of reason and unreason in the critical theory of the Frankfurt School. Forst argues that the Frankfurt School is characterised by a reflexive, systematic rational critique of existing forms of social unreason, combining social scientific analysis with normative reflection. A convincing continuation of this critical project should thus relate to the practice of justification, and thus ultimately to the principle of critique itself.

Find the full research paper here:

»The rational critique of social unreason. On critical theory in the Frankfurt tradition«