Critical Theory

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Critical Theory

Critical theory is a philosophical and social movement that critiques and seeks to transform society by uncovering and challenging systems of domination, power, and ideology. Rooted in Marxist thought, it emerged from the Frankfurt School in the early 20th century, with thinkers like Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and later Jürgen Habermas expanding its scope. Critical theorists argue that traditional social sciences often reinforce existing power structures rather than question them, advocating for an approach that blends philosophy, sociology, and political economy to expose hidden forms of oppression. Adorno and Horkheimer’s Dialectic of Enlightenment (1944) critiqued how modern rationality, instead of liberating humanity, had become a tool of domination under capitalism. Marcuse’s One-Dimensional Man (1964) explored how consumer culture pacifies resistance, creating a conformist society. Habermas later refined critical theory by introducing communicative action, arguing that distorted communication sustains systems of power, while rational discourse can enable democratic emancipation. Critical theory continues to influence fields like feminism, postcolonial studies, media analysis, and critical race theory, providing tools to examine and resist social injustices in contemporary societies.

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Key Terms

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Critical Theory >

• Polycrisis
• Regime of Accumulation

Syncretic Terms

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Key Figures

Critical Theory > Louis Althusser

Related LP Terms

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Non-LP Related Terms

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