Critique as Social Practice
Critical Theory and Social Self-Understanding
Abstract
Can critical theory diagnose ideological delusion and false consciousness from above, or does it have to follow the practices of critique ordinary agents engage in? This book argues that we have to move beyond this dichotomy, which has led to a theoretical impasse. Whilst ordinary agents engage in complex forms of everyday critique, it must remain the task of critical theory to provide analysis and critique of social conditions that obstruct the development of reflexive capacities and of their realization in corresponding practices of critique. Only an approach that is at the same time non-paternalistic, pragmatist, and dialogical as well as critical will be able to realize the emancipatory potential of the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory in radically changing social circumstances.
The translation of this work was funded by Geisteswissenschaften International – Translation Funding for Humanities and Social Sciences from Germany, a joint initiative of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, the collecting society VG WORT and the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publisher & Booksellers Association)
Schlagworte
Philosophy of the Social Sciences Social Philosophy Political Philosophy Political Theory Continental Philosophy Critical Theory- i–xiv Preface i–xiv
- 1–18 Introduction 1–18
- 191–194 Conclusion 191–194
- 195–216 Bibliography 195–216
- 217–222 Index 217–222
- 223–223 About the Author 223–223