Understanding Modern Relations at Work

While there are many concepts and models that seek to explain the world of work, there has also been a lack of comprehensive theory that allows a deeper understanding of work. Such an understanding must be linked to Enlightenment’s idea of critical rationality. Although it is not specifically geared towards the world of work, a theory that is able to support the project of a critical understanding of the world of work can be found in critical theory. Central to such an idea for a critical theory for work are two major works:221 Knowledge and Human Interests (1987) and The Theory of Communicative Action (1997). Both have constructed a relatively new normative foundation for critical theory. The theoretical understanding must be formulated comprehensively as an incomprehensible theory is basically a useless theory. While Habermas’ first major work on Knowledge and Human Interests represents three knowledge creating interests that can be found in all scientific enterprises, The Theory of Communicative Action establishes theoretical foundations for communication. In The Theory of Communicative Action Habermas’ ideas can be traced back to the development of earlier foundations. Original sources that supported the project of a critical understanding of communicative aspects of work have also come from the following sources: The three supportive ideas outlined in Table 5.1 share one aspect of communication. There is a common human interest in understanding and even changing the world around us.