Critique as Social Practice: Critical Theory and Social Self-Understanding (Essex Studies in Contemporary Critical Theory)

Robin Celikates

ISBN 10: 1786604620 / ISBN 13: 9781786604620

Published by Rowman & Littlefield International, 2018

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9781786604620

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Critique as Social Practice: Critical Theory and Social Self-Understanding (Essex Studies in Contemporary Critical Theory)
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1786604620
• ISBN 13: 9781786604620
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

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)

About the Author

Robin Celikates is Professor of Social Philosophy at the Free University Berlin.

Naomi van Steenbergen is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at Utrecht University, Netherlands.