The Public Sphere: Liberal Modernity, Catholicism, Islam [Paperback]

This book explores conceptual and institutional developments of the notion of the public sphere in the West and in the Islamic world, tackling historic ruptures spanning the formation and transformation of the Euro-Mediterranean world. Set against an imploding grammar of socio-political life, the modern liberal public sphere appears in a new light.Introduction: For a Genealogy of the Public Sphere Religion, Civilization, and the Redefinition of Tradition Bridging Imagination, Practice, and Discourse The Public Reason of the Commoner The Collective Pursuit of Public Weal The Implosion of Traditions and the Redefinition of Common Sense The Modern Public Sphere: Transforming Practical Reason into Prudential Communication After Genealogy: Towards a Pluralist Theory of the Public Sphere

'This is an ambitious, original and sophisticated work that breaks new ground in several fields. Salvatore's comparative analysis of traditions and civilizations places the whole debate on the public sphere and civil society in a broader context. The discussion of parallels and connections between European and Islamic traditions is particularly insightful. The multi-traditional focus is underpinned by a distinctive hermeneutical approach that rescues the notion of genealogy from its postmodern practitioners and puts it to better uses. Philosophical and sociological interpretations of the Axial Age are drawn into dialogue with main currents in contemporary social theory. Last but not least, Salvatore proposes a new reading of Giambattista Vico, an enigmatic but crucially important figure in the history of European thought, and makes the most convincing case so far presented for his relevance to current debates.' - Johann P. Arnason, La Trobe University, Melbourne/Charles University, Prague

'This is a book most remarkable for its scope and sophistication, destined to attain a strong impact in more than one field of scholarship. It contributes to an innovative and slm