Customer Reviews

Introduction to Critical Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas

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This books provide a clear and simple introduction to the extremely complex topic of critical theory. The book is very rich in substance and detail but at the same time is clear and intelligible to almost anyone who is a familiar with Marxian theory of political economy and the superstructure. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Critical Theory.

It seems to me introductory books would be very difficult to write. It is necessary to walk a razor's edge since one must present enough detail and depth to make the subject interesting (and to allow the reader to go on and read the primary sources for themselves) while maintaining a level of accessibility that will be fitting for the absolute newcomer. David Held does an absolutely masterful job of walking that razor's edge in this book.

David Held does an excellent job of situating the critical theorists in their historical context. Basically the critical theorists found themselves in the position of having to reinterpret Marx's critical theory in order to take into account developments in capitalism (the movement from free-market capitalism to state run capitalism) as well as to provide a critical theory that was capable of including the so-called 'socialist' states (such as the Soviet Union) in their critique. With the Soviet Union it became clear that the critique of the private ownership of the means of production was not an adequate basis from which to construct a critical theory which would lead to general human emancipation. The Soviet system had abolished private property and yet it was clearly not a move in the direction of increased freedom. The critical theorists attempted, therefore, to work out standpoints of critique that would be capable of including the Soviet Union, as well as the capitalist countries, within their critique and that would at least point in the direction of general human emancipation (Adorno chose the non-identity between concept and object, Marcuse chose surplus repression, Habermas chose distorted communication, etc.). David Held also does an excellent job of discussing the influence of psychoanalytic developments on the critical theorists.

And finally, at the end, David Held offers some of his own brief criticisms of what he takes to be shortcomings in the work of the critical theorists that I thought were of a genuinely high caliber. Which means this book will be of interest for anyone interested in the critical theorists (novice and expert alike). I cannot recommend this one too highly!

-Brian

This is an excellent reference to critical theory. David Held masterfully presents an entertaining and erudite introduction, noting the theory from a new perspective.
Ernesto egmconsult.com

It took a while to get here - nevertheless, not more than I was told of -, but the book is in great conditions.
Thank you.
Rui