Reification

Reification: A New Look at an Old Idea by Axel Honneth, Judith Butler, Raymond Geuss and Jonathan Lear. The concept of reification has been a cornerstone of Marxist theory since its introduction in the early 20th century. Hungarian theorist Georg Lukács identified it as the transformation of historical processes into ahistorical entities, where human actions become things that seem part of an immutable "second nature". Despite its potential as a tool for revolutionary emancipation, de-reification ultimately failed to deliver. In this collection of essays, philosopher Axel Honneth revisits the concept of reification and attempts to rescue it through his philosophy of recognition. Three distinguished thinkers - Judith Butler, Raymond Geuss, and Jonathan Lear - challenge the central premise of Honneth's argument, questioning whether a fundamental experience of intersubjective recognition can provide a normative standard for judging current social relations. Honneth engages with their criticism, providing a powerful defense of his position. This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of reification and its significance in understanding social relations.