Axel Honneth has called for a change of focus in Critical Theory "from the
self-generated independence of systems to the damage and distortion of
social relations of recognition." I argue that Honneth does not shift his
methodological focus sufficiently to succeed in his goal of illuminating
the social relations of recognition. Despite Honneth's shift to relations of
recognition, he considers these relations in terms of the macrosocial
Hegelian triad of social spheres of recognition. A deeper analysis of
recognition behaviors shows they cannot be mapped exactly to these
spheres. I conclude that the Hegelian triad of social spheres is an
insufficient basis for an exploration of misrecognition behaviors. To
understand misrecognition, we need to seek a picture of misrecognition
that reflects the complex diversity of individuals' lived experiences and
practices, gives sufficient attention to interpersonal recognition and
misrecognition, and offers potential reasons for why individuals might
engage in misrecognition behaviors
