Critical Theory Essential Read (Paragon Issues in Philosophy) by David Ingram

by David Ingram

This selection of some of the most important writing of the Frankfurt School and its critics provides beginning and advanced philosophy students with a solid grounding in critical theory. Substantial selections have been chosen from the works of Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Herbert Marcuse, and Jurgen Habermas as well as well-known feminist and post-structuralist critics Michel Foucault, Jean-Francoise Lyotard, Nancy Fraser, and Seyla la Benhabib.

The twenty-two selections in Critical The Essential Readings provide students with a lucid overview of the central themes and concerns of critical theory. The main introduction and prefaces to sections discuss the writers and selections, highlighting connections between ideas and their historical contexts. In addition, Critical Theory contains the first full translation of Habermas' influential essay, " An Unfinished Project."

The introduction preceding each article orients the student to the general theory of the author and relates the particular article to the other materials in the book. The individual introductions also include particular historical events surrounding each article so students can read the pieces in context. The editors have also selected substantial pieces by each contributor and have avoided excerpting wherever possible.

The arrangement of the selections in Critical The Essential Readings parallels the material in Critical Theory and Philosophy, and when read in conjunction with it presents the leading ideas of the Frankfurt School in the most accessible format possible.

Genres: Philosophy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Leo46 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid collection of Frankfurt School essays and some responses. Read with Duquesne Marx and Critical Theory classes mainly Horkheimer, Adorno, and Habermas essays.

[— · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little short, but a good selection of articles expounding on a few key concepts in critical theory and beyond. Of particular quality is the piece included by Foucault, who always delivers on these matters. Nothing here is egregious, but the second to last essay critiquing Habermas could have been left out.