Pikit, Cotabato's spaces for peace: An embodiment of Jurgen Habermas' theory of communicative action

• Main Author: Santoyo, Eduardo Mojica
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Habermas, Jurgen; Cotabato City Region (Philippines)—Politics and government; Philippines > Politics and government; Theory and Philosophy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/187; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_doctoral/article/1186/viewcontent/CDTG004397_P__1_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Karl Marx argued that the task of Philosophy is not to understand History but to change it! Even now, the man-in-the-street lament and belittle Philosophy as the study of theories and ideas that is divorced from concrete realities and challenges of the time. Socrates taught that the unexamined life is not worth living. Thus, for Philosophy to be relevant and gripping, critical thinking and practical action on issues that shape life are imperative! Jurgen Habermas, a theorist and critic of the Frankfurt School, claims that knowledge is a product of the society which is often mystified and reified. However, through critical reflection, dynamic mix of theory, praxis and program of action, oppressive effects may be counteracted. This paper aims to apply Habermas Theories of Communicative Action and Universal Pragmatics as tools to analyze the Spaces for Peace of Pikit, Cotabato. The Philippine Government used to call Mindanao the Land of Promise. However, for the last four decades, it has actually become the capital of poverty, violence, prejudice and misery. The bloodbath and turmoil can be traced back to Spanish occupation that divided people between Bisayas and Moros, Christians and Muslims, tyrants and slaves, victors and victims. The writer explores the complex and sensitive issues as articulated in the Spaces for Peace of the Pikit, Cotabato inhabitants who have become pawns of prejudice, violence and suffering. Do the Spaces for Peace express the ideas, aspirations and feelings of people crushed by the turmoil? Habermas Theories of Communicative Action and Universal Pragmatics provide analytic tools to determine the validity claims: truth, truthfulness and rightness. The highlights of the Culture of Peace seminars among people from all walks of life government leaders, soldiers, rebels, religious leaders, businessmen, teachers, students, farmers and fishermen were collated and analyzed. The tedious, lengthy, highly-emotional, profound and honest sharing of experiences, thoughts and feelings gave flesh to the understanding of the issues as well as concrete paths to peace. The Spaces for Peace in Pikit, Cotabato embodied Jurgen Habermas Theory of Communicative Action. The Ideal Speech Situation was evident. All the communicative agents had an equal opportunity to participate in a fair dialogue, assert, defend or question all and any of the speech acts claim to validity. Interaction transcended religious, political and cultural boundaries as well as selfish interest, prejudices and strategic agenda to conquer and succeed. Habermas Theories of Communicative Action and Universal Pragmatics highlighted the transformation of a war-torn community divided by hatred and violence to an oasis of peace engaged in mutual and authentic understanding.