Scribd
Upload
8 views14 pages

Philo- Socio Psycho (_

Critical Theory, developed by the Frankfurt School, critiques society and culture by questioning power structures and ideologies, influenced by thinkers like Marx and Freud. Key concepts include alienation, reification, ideology, and emancipation, emphasizing the need for critical thinking to challenge societal norms. The theory remains significant in academia and activism, advocating for a more just and equitable world.

Uploaded by

angeliquemanheaven
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views14 pages

Philo- Socio Psycho (_

Critical Theory, developed by the Frankfurt School, critiques society and culture by questioning power structures and ideologies, influenced by thinkers like Marx and Freud. Key concepts include alienation, reification, ideology, and emancipation, emphasizing the need for critical thinking to challenge societal norms. The theory remains significant in academia and activism, advocating for a more just and equitable world.

Uploaded by

angeliquemanheaven
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

Philo- Socio Psycho

(Foundation of Education)

CRITICAL THEORY

by ANGELIQUE MATUNHAY
Critical Theory examines society
and culture through critique,
questioning power structures,
ideologies, and social norms.
Origins of Critical Theory

• Developed by the Frankfurt School in the


early 20th century
• Influenced by Karl Marx, Max Weber, and
Sigmund Freud
• Seeks to challenge and change societal
structures
Key Thinkers of Critical Theory

Jürgen Habermas
Max Horkheimer (born 1929)
(1895-1973)

Theodor W. Adorno Walter Benjamin


(1903-1969)
(1892-1940)

Herbert Marcuse
(1898- –1979)
Max Horkheimer
(1895-1973)

Examined how reason and logic were used to


control people rather than liberate them.
Theodor W. Adorno (1903-
1969)

Criticized the "culture industry," arguing that mass


media manipulates people and suppresses individuality.
Herbert Marcuse
(1898- –1979)

Argued that modern capitalist societies create a


"one-dimensional" way of thinking that prevents people
from questioning authority.
Walter Benjamin
(1892-1940)

A cultural critic and intellectual, Benjamin's work


explored the relationship between history, culture, and
technology, particularly his concept of the "work of art in
the age of mechanical reproduction".
Jürgen Habermas
(born 1929)

Introduced the idea of "communicative action,"


emphasizing free and rational discussion in a democratic
society.
Core Concepts

Alienation
refers to the idea of humans being separated,
estranged, or distanced from something
crucial to their freedom or capacity to flourish.
Core Concepts

Reification
a term used to critique cases in which some
entity that should not be viewed as an object
– oneself, other people, or some segment of
the social or natural world – is treated as a
thing-like object.
Core Concepts

Ideology
is used to identify a distorted relationship to
the world and one’s own place in it (Eagleton
1991)
Core Concepts

Emancipation
understood as liberation, including self-
liberation, from domination by social, political,
and economic powers, both personal and
structural
Conclusion

Critical Theory helps us understand,


question, and change societal norms and
power structures.
It remains a key approach in academia,
activism, and social movements.
Encourages people to think critically and
work towards a more just and
equitable world.

You might also like