Critical Theory: Habermas and the Frankfurt School

The Frankfurt School, one of the most important thought traditions of the twentieth century, presented critical theory as a radically new form of knowledge and argued that this knowledge would enlighten us about our real or correct interests and save us from forms of pressure and compulsion that we are often unaware of. Critical theory, which was developed as a resistance discourse during the period when fascism was at its strongest, problematized the concept of enlightenment itself, which it considered together with totalitarianism, revealed the relationship of this concept with the problem of method in social sciences, and therefore gave a permanent political content to the discussion of method. According to the thinkers of the Frankfurt School, such a theory should give an explanation not only of the social world as an object of research, but also of the conditions that enable or require the emergence of the theory itself as a part of this world and the impact it will have. Therefore, critical theory, which adopts a reflexive method, rejects the objectifying understanding of science of positivism and the subject/object distinction that is a part of this understanding. The first examples of this type of theory, which begins with the works of thinkers such as Adorno, Horkheimer and Marcuse and extends to Habermas, appear in the works of Marx and Freud.

In Critical Theory: Habermas and the Frankfurt School, Raymond Geuss gives a detailed analysis of these basic claims and discusses their validity. Is it possible to have a scientific theory that not only describes and explains social phenomena but also criticizes them? While searching for answers to these questions, Geuss, who devotes extensive space to critical theory's confrontation with positivism, takes the concept of ideology as his starting point. Within the framework of a comprehensive discussion surrounding the different meanings of this concept, it questions the relationship of ideology with our beliefs and interests, the accuracy and scientific criteria required by a criticism of ideology, and the 'enlightening' and 'liberating' knowledge that this criticism provides, especially within a philosophical framework. The Frankfurt School has made a lasting impact on social sciences by unmasking an understanding of science and enlightenment that drives not only modern capitalist society and fascism, but also the opposition discourses developed against them. Critical Theory, which is an introduction to this discourse, is a permanent reference source not only for those interested in critical theory, with its analytical perspective, but also for those working on the purpose and method of social sciences.



Year of Printing: 2009


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Details Publications

First Printing Year: 2009

Number of Pages: 0

Language Turkish