Critical Theory: Frankfurt School

Abstract

Although myriad in its forms, ‘critical theory’ (or more generally critical social inquiry) has a distinctive purpose and overall structure. Critical social theorists generally aim at constructing social theories that link explanation and criticism and thus have both normative and explanatory features. Furthermore, such theories must also be ‘practical,’ in the specific sense that they are oriented to human emancipation. As such, the best such works employ a variety of methods and styles of explanation and are often interdisciplinary in their mode of research. While thus methodologically and theoretically pluralistic in orientation, critical theorists provide two general answers to the question of what makes a form of social inquiry or a theory critical. The first is that it employs a distinctive comprehensive theory that unifies such diverse approaches and explanations and underwrites the epistemic authority of the critic. The second is practical. According to this view, such theories are distinguished by the form of politics in which they are embedded and which also provides the method for practical verification. On a practical account, critical inquiry aims at creating the reflective conditions necessary for its own public and practical verification. As new forms of critical theory emerge related to racism, sexism and colonialism, reflective social agents test and transform even democratic ideals and practices in the interest of increasing human freedom and emancipation.