Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas

by David Held

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.

Genres: Philosophy, Theory, Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, Social Science, Academia

497 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 1980

Reviews

[Shafiq Razak Rajan]

Critical Theory arises out of the disillusionment of several Western Marxists on the failure of proletarian revolution to occur in Western industrialized states. And so it turns out that Karl Marx's prophecy of the inevitable collapse of Western capitalism simply didn't come true. Therefore, these Western Marxists feel the need to reevaluate Marxism and examine on how the capitalist system managed to survive in defiance to Marx's prediction.

I found David Held's introduction to thinkers such as Adorno, Horkheimer, Marcuse and Habermas as illuminating in highlighting their similarities and differences. The term Frankfurt School itself is not a homogeous school of thought; it is composed of varying opinions with similar goal: that of making Marxist thoughts relevant to the contemporary (1930s-1970s) situation.


I'm not a Marxist, but I'm attracted to the Frankfurt School's critique of contemporary popular culture, in which I believe as being relevant in my country. And I found the School's assertion that reality is historically rooted (and hence, subjected to change by active critiquing and agency) to be highly fascinating. But you won't find any set of doctrine on how to change society from them. The Frankfurt School does not provide us with easy answers.

I won't rate this book because there are parts of it that are still beyond my comprehension, such as most of Habermas's ideas. I shall return to it later for a second (or third, or fourth) reading.

Although the book is supposed to be an Introduction, a basic knowledge of Marxism (or Sociology and Philosophy in general) is required for a more thorough enjoyment of this book.

[sologdin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly thorough as to Adorno & Horkheimer, Marcuse, and Habermas--less so regarding the others. Marginal notes on the beginning and purpose of the School as an entirety, as well as a tepid critique and assessment in conclusion. Certainly a useful introduction, though I'd recommend starting with Jay.

[Karl Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 stronger for not having this material in it, as it becomes all the more astonishing how much poststructuralism--including its feminist versions--owes to critical theory. There are differences, of course (see Held's (approving?) account of Marcuse on mastering 'nature'); but the differences are not of the nature of a radical break. Apart from being a reference, the book's value may lie in its preventing students of theory--me, for instance--from thinking that because Derrida et al. surprised us, that they emerged ex nihilo rather than from an already thriving intellectual tradition. In our arrogance, I think we too often mistake our own astonishment, and the astonishment of an uneducated press, for the astonishment of intellectuals who may not have been astonished at all.

The book's final third is on Habermas. After seeing that we were about the enter into a discussion of unrestricted rational discussions in the public sphere, I skipped it, since Habermas's unreconstructed humanism is of no value to my work on animals. So I can't rightly be said to have finished this book.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Membaca buku ini harus didahului pemahaman tentang pemikiran Karl Marx. Jika tidak, mungkin akan menemui sedikit kesulitan memahami pemikiran para kaum Frankfurt School. Held menjelaskan secara sistematis pemikiran Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse dan Habermas secara diakronis. Buku ini menyita banyak atensi dan waktu untuk memahaminya. Namun bisa dikatakan cukup 'thorough', detail dan lengkap untuk mengkaji perkembangan teori kritis.

[Jess Gulbranson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense, but the summation of Adorno's aesthetic theory is fucking mind-blowing.

[Will S · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really good overview of the Frankfurt School's thought, but I don't think it is a very good introduction because Held does not explain the influence of Hegel and Nietzsche sufficiently to make their very important influences on the Frankfurt School clear to someone who does not already know many of their central claims (he does a much better job with Marx). I had to come back to the book a couple of years after I initially read it (having read Hegel and Nietzsche in much greater depth) to really appreciate it, and no introductory text should require that.

[Aine F · Rating 5 out of 5]

essential for getting into critical theory and the frankfurt school