Critical Theory
Published on 5. August 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
XIII, 204 pages
978-0-333-75152-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book examines the intellectual contribution made by Frankfurt School Critical Theory to our understanding of modern life. Thematically organized and offering a strong mix of historical and contemporary material, it considers the work of both the first and second generation. While the work of the latter is often taken to exceed that of the former, the author suggests that insights gleaned by both, regarding the human subject, offer a significant alternative to post-modern ideas.
Reviews / Votes
'How offers something new and valuable. The book's charm flows from the generosity of its authors enthusiasm combined with a near-faultless consideration of the reader's needs. Short enough to be unintimidating yet long enough to deal with the expository demands of technically difficult material... here is a book to excite teachers and students.' - John Parker, University of Wales, Swansea, The Times Higher Education SupplementMore details
Series
Edition
2003
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
365 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-333-75152-7 (9780333751527)
DOI
10.1007/978-0-230-80237-7
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
ALAN HOW is Curriculum Leader for undergraduate sociology and Course Leader for the Masters programme at University College Worcester. His previous book is The Habermas-Gadamer Debate and the Nature of the Social (1995).
Content
Foreword.- Introduction.- PART 1: HISTORICAL CONTOURS Early Days, Early Doubts: From Optimism to Ambiguity.- Disillusion and the Rise of the Nietzschean Streak.- The Reconstruction of Critical Theory: From Ideology Critique to Communicative Reason.- PART 2: SUBSTANTIVE IDEAS: THE FIRST GENERATION Rationalisation as Reification.- Critical Theory, the Family and the Narcissistic Personality.- PART 3: SUBSTANTIVE IDEAS: THE SECOND GENERATION Overcoming the Impasse: Habermas's Reconstruction of Critical Theory.- Critical Theory and Postmodernism.- PART 4: CONCLUSION Why Read Critical Theory?.- Further Reading.- Bibliography.