What Conception of Sovereignty Does Axel Honneth Propose as Foundational to the Sphere of Labor?

Abstract

This research paper aims to provide a critical and inductive examination of the concept of labor in accordance with the political–philosophical framework articulated by Axel Honneth, particularly through its connection to the notion of sovereignty. Consequently, labor sovereignty constitutes our central focus, as it represents the entry point through which Honneth seeks to establish the foundations of participatory democracy within wage-labor environments.

Throughout this intellectual inquiry, we follow Honneth’s development of the theory of recognition and trace its expansion from an investigation of social democracy to a broader conception of democracy rooted in action within the sphere of human existence. Building upon this framework, we aim to elucidate the strengths that characterize his philosophical perspective, while also assessing the extent to which this conception proves effective. In doing so, we critically highlight the limitations and shortcomings inherent in this otherwise compelling philosophical model