Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas / Edition 1

by David Held

Overview

The writings of the critical theorists caught the imagination of students and intellectuals in the 1960s and 1970s. They became a key element in the formation and self-understanding of the New Left, and have been the subject of continuing controversy. Partly because of their rise to prominence during the political turmoil of the sixties, and partly because they draw on traditions rarely studied in the Anglo-American world, the works of these authors are often misunderstood.

In this book David Held provides a much-needed introduction to, and evaluation of, critical theory. He is concerned mainly with the thought of the Frankfurt school—Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, in particular—and with Habermas, one of Europe's leading contemporary thinkers. Several of the major themes considered are critical theory's relation to Marx's critique of the political economy, Freudian psychoanalysis, aesthetics, and the philosophy of history. There is also a discussion of critical theory's substantive contribution to the analysis of capitalism, culture, the family, and the individual, as well as its contribution to epistemology and methodology.

Held's book will be necessary reading for all concerned with understanding and evaluating one of the most influential intellectual movements of our time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520041752
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	10/13/1980
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	497
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

David Held is Graham Wallas Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Note about translation

Introduction
The historical context - The character of critical theory

Part One Critical Theory: The Frankfurt School

1 The formation of the Institute of Social Research

2 Class, class conflict and the development of capitalism:
critical theory and political economy

3 The culture industry: critical theory and aesthetics

4 The changing structure of the family and the
individual: critical theory and psychoanalysis

5 The critique of instrumental reason: critical theory and
philosophy of history

6 Horkheimer's formulation of critical theory:
epistemology and method

7 Adorno's conception of negative dialectics:
epistemology and method

8 Marcuse's notions of theory and practke: epistemology
and method

Part Two Critkal Theory: Habermas

9 Introduction to Habermas

10 Discourse, science and society

11 Interests, knowledge and action

12 The reformulation of the foundations of critical theory

13 An assessment of the Frankfurt school and Habermas

14 The concept of critical theory

Appendix The Odyssey
Notes and references
Select bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

'The best introduction to, and analysis of the work of the leading figures in the 'Frankfurt School' that has yet appeared. It should become the standard work in the field.' Political Studies

'An important and usefu book.' Journal of the History of Sociology

'The book is clearly written, packed with information and biographical references, and most of all, well-organized.' Contemporary Sociology

'David Held's book presents the major strands of critical theory in an accessible and comprehensive form ... a valuable presentation and evaluation of the thought of the Frankfurt School and some of its critics.' Political Studies

From the Publisher