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DISCUSSION
are, however, serious problems with this assumption. The practical
choice of values is not only relevant to the choice of ends but to the
choice of means for implementing the ends as well. An efficient choice
of instrumental alternatives is based upon a cost-benefit analysis of
various alternatives. Definition of costs and benefits, however, is mostly
a practical issue. In fact, one significant arena of political struggle
concerns the inclusion or exclusion of different damages or utilities in
the realm of the relevant and effective calculation of costs and benefits.
For example, ecological and generational consequences of technical
choices are not included within the Liberalist logic of private capital. 29
In other words, the definition of efficiency and instrumental rationality
presupposes a constant choice -- implicit or explicit -- of political and
practical alternatives.
Habermas' notion of interest in control and domination as the quasi-
transcendental ground of natural sciences may also be questioned.
Habermas' identification of the underlying interest of natural science
and technology definitely reflects the cultural categories of the his-
torical!y specific stage of Western industrial societies. Marcuse, for
example, advocates the necessity of a dialogical conception of nature-
human relations, an emphasis on interest in harmony rather than
domination, and a non-neutral perception of technology.B° In addition
to the quasi-transcendental interests, however, there are multitudes of
practical and dialogical factors that are involved in the theoretical
practice of natural sciences. Basically, Habermas comes close to a
positivistic perception of the categories and logic of natural sciences.
The meaning of the terms of propositions within scientific discourse,
however, is defined and determined by the theoretical context, theore-
tical assumptions, and structural totality of the propositions. 31 In other
words, the model of ordinary language is not entirely alien to the
structure of discourse in natural sciences. The logical positivist's notion
of the meaning of terms as objective, isolated, representational and de-
notative phenomena 32, modified but ultimately accepted by Habermas,
is a very questionable theoretical standpoint.
An important sociological problem with Habermas' theory of ration-
ality is the naive assumption of the neutral character of technology.
The fact that technological changes lead to institutional and cultural
transformations does not need detailed argumentation. This implies that