Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas

David Held

University of California Press, Oct 13, 1980 - Philosophy - 511 pages

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.

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - karl.steel - LibraryThing

I believe there's a 1990 edition where, presumably, Held takes account of the relations between poststructuralism (and its iterations) and critical theory. But I'd say that this edition (1980) may be ...

User Review -

This book reads like a very blurred LSD fuelled debate between Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, Lowenthal, Pollock, Benjamin and any others that may have stumbled into the room. Difficult to grasp the direction that the author is taking and very near impossible to grasp what exactly Critical Theory is since all of its contributors seem to take a different stance on every point made in the book. Confused, worried and concerned.  

Contents

• Note about translation: 12
• The Frankfurt School: 29
• critical theory and aesthetics: 77
• critical theory and psychoanalysis: 110
• Erich Fromm Wilhelm Reich Concepts of human: 137
• critical theory: 148
• epistemology: 223
• concept of critical theory Stages of development: 232
• dialectic The integration of Freud Nature: 244
• Habermas: 247
• Discourse science and society: 260
• Interests knowledge and action: 296
• The reformulation of the foundations of critical theory: 330
• Part Three The Importance and Limitations of Critical: 351
• The concept of critical theory: 379
• Appendix The Odyssey: 401
• Select bibliography: 483
• Index: 501

Bibliographic information

• Title: Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas
• Author: David Held
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: University of California Press, 1980
• ISBN: 0520041755, 9780520041752
• Length: 511 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / Political