How have Americans, as a society, become so apathetic towards the environment? Our
everyday routines take such a toll on the earth, yet we continue to consume, pollute, and
waste (Ryan and Durning 1997). The focus of this paper is to analyze the “uncoupling” of
the system and the lifeworld as they relate to the natural environment, and people's
attitudes towards it. It would seem that as humans, we have become disconnected from
our roots. The natural environment is being destroyed not only by the consumption of
goods, but also by neglectful and wasteful government policies.
In the following paper, I will use the critical theory of Jürgen Habermas to explain
this problem, and review relevant literature on Habermas and the environment. First I
explain his theory, and define its components. Second, I explain the origins of Habermas'
theory. Third, I argue that the system, with its agencies and bureaucracies, has infiltrated
the desires of our society through law. And lastly, I will demonstrate that there are some
aspects of the government, and its associated bureaucracies, which may be making some
strides in the right direction.
Habermas' Theory
Jürgen Habermas' (1987:154-155) Theory of Communicative Action is a complex
argument centered around the uncoupling of the system and the lifeworld. The system
includes the institutional structures of a society which act on a macro-level of interaction.
Some examples of system components are things like government, big business, the
media, even society as a whole. Large non-governmental organizations (NGOs), say, for
instance, Greenpeace also have a role, but do not fit as neatly into the system-lifeworld
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Convention