Leftist Thought Summarized by Max Horkheimer

[Vol8188]

One of the founders of critical theory and the Frankfort school really helps you understand everything you need to know about the left in this paragraph.

1. At some point I think we’ve all asked the question “Are their economic policies designed to fail?” Or why do they openly celebrate the poverty of countries like Cuba (openly praising their lack of inequality because everyone is equally poor).

Here Horkheimer admits capitalism provided people with a better life and yet he still opposes it. “This society in which we live does no immoderate the workers but helps them build a better life”.

2. Why do they openly mock the concept of freedom? We’ve seen it from Biden and countless others on the left. The answer? Freedom is seen as the opposite of justice. If you give women freedom, they may go into careers that pay less than men. Or if you give markets freedom, they may overvalue the labor of men.

“The more freedom, the less justice and the more justice, the less freedom”

3. Why does the left label all the things racism, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, etc, regardless of if the thing is actually racist, etc. because their only goal is to complain. This is the entire goal of critical race theory, critical anything. Just complain. They don’t actually believe they can even know how to address any of their complaints

“the critical theory which I conceived later is based on the idea that we cannot determine what is good”

“But in our work we can bring up the negative aspects of this society, which we want to change”

‘The more justice, the less freedom’: Max Horkheimer on Critical Theory

 

[McDad]

Nice post.

You mentioned another leftist philosopher earlier, Marcuse. Are you aware of any others who belong on the Mt Rushmore of modern leftist idealogy?

 

[Vol8188]

Nice post.

You mentioned another leftist philosopher earlier, Marcuse. Are you aware of any others who belong on the Mt Rushmore of modern leftist idealogy?

Mainly familiar with him, Foucault, and Horkheimer

 

[McDad]

Mainly familiar with him, Foucault, and Horkheimer

I would like to see us discuss the philosophies and beliefs of the founding fathers of leftist ideology. Please post more if you would like it.

 

[volinbham]

I think this misses the essence of "critical" theory. It's not to be critical of everything but generally takes "truth" as a construction of the parties in power rather than some absolute or universal truth. Since it tends to be more popular with people who disagree with the status quo in whatever field (critical theory is applied in many fields) the output is a critique of the current "truth".

The biggest problem with critical theory is that it doesn't hold up to any form of rigorous validation. Compare that with something like Positivism (much more common view) which relies on rigorous, data-driven validation for items to be considered "truth".

The critical theory response to the validation problem is generally predictable; the entire notion of validation is irrelevant because the validation methods and requirements are constructed by the group in power and thus not valid in an of themselves. It always boils down to the "system" being rigged by those in power to maintain power over the oppressed

 

[Vol8188]

I think this misses the essence of "critical" theory. It's not to be critical of everything but generally takes "truth" as a construction of the parties in power rather than some absolute or universal truth. Since it tends to be more popular with people who disagree with the status quo in whatever field (critical theory is applied in many fields) the output is a critique of the current "truth".

The biggest problem with critical theory is that it doesn't hold up to any form of rigorous validation. Compare that with something like Positivism (much more common view) which relies on rigorous, data-driven validation for items to be considered "truth".

The critical theory response to the validation problem is generally predictable; the entire notion of validation is irrelevant because the validation methods and requirements are constructed by the group in power and thus not valid in an of themselves. It always boils down to the "system" being rigged by those in power to maintain power over the oppressed

That’s a fair point. The idea of truth being rated to power is from Foucault right?

 

[Vol8188]

I would like to see us discuss the philosophies and beliefs of the founding fathers of leftist ideology. Please post more if you would like it.

I’m down. Anything in particular

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Good post 88.

One of the founders of critical theory and the Frankfort school really helps you understand everything you need to know about the left in this paragraph.

1. At some point I think we’ve all asked the question “Are their economic policies designed to fail?” Or why do they openly celebrate the poverty of countries like Cuba (openly praising their lack of inequality because everyone is equally poor).

Here Horkheimer admits capitalism provided people with a better life and yet he still opposes it. “This society in which we live does no immoderate the workers but helps them build a better life”.

2. Why do they openly mock the concept of freedom? We’ve seen it from Biden and countless others on the left. The answer? Freedom is seen as the opposite of justice. If you give women freedom, they may go into careers that pay less than men. Or if you give markets freedom, they may overvalue the labor of men.

“The more freedom, the less justice and the more justice, the less freedom”

3. Why does the left label all the things racism, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, etc, regardless of if the thing is actually racist, etc. because their only goal is to complain. This is the entire goal of critical race theory, critical anything. Just complain. They don’t actually believe they can even know how to address any of their complaints

“the critical theory which I conceived later is based on the idea that we cannot determine what is good”

“But in our work we can bring up the negative aspects of this society, which we want to change”

‘The more justice, the less freedom’: Max Horkheimer on Critical Theory

Good post 88. Like reading the stuff you post, and admire your hustles in life as well. Glad youre posting here more lately bro

 

[Vol8188]

Good post 88.



Good post 88. Like reading the stuff you post, and admire your hustles in life as well. Glad youre posting here more lately bro

Appreciated

 

[NCFisher]

Nice post.

You mentioned another leftist philosopher earlier, Marcuse. Are you aware of any others who belong on the Mt Rushmore of modern leftist idealogy?

An outline of critical theory (which begat critical legal theory/studies, then critical race) antecedents. I think Marcuse is generally credited with applying the theory to "blacks, feminists, and homosexuals" as the most promising, substitute groups upon which to further the Marxian agenda as Western nations soured on the idea post-WWII as broad prosperity & horrific socialist experiments globally displaced hopes of a universalist, worker-based uprising against 'the man' or 'system'.

Many, if not all of these proponents, migrated to the U.S. and found shelter in academia, disguising their Marxist vision under the pseudonym 'critical theory'.
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Critical theory emerged out of the Marxist tradition and was developed by a group of sociologists at the University of Frankfurt in Germany who referred to themselves as The Frankfurt School.

History and Overview
Critical theory as it is known today can be traced to Marx's critiques of the economy and society. It is inspired greatly by Marx's theoretical formulation of the relationship between economic base and ideological superstructure and focuses on how power and domination operate.

Following in Marx's critical footsteps, Hungarian György Lukács and Italian Antonio Gramsci developed theories that explored the cultural and ideological sides of power and domination. Both Lukács and Gramsci focused their critique on the social forces that prevent people from understanding how power affects their lives.



Shortly after Lukács and Gramsci published their ideas, the Institute for Social Research was founded at the University of Frankfurt, and the Frankfurt School of critical theorists took shape. The work of the Frankfurt School members, including Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Erich Fromm, Walter Benjamin, Jürgen Habermas, and Herbert Marcuse, is considered the heart of critical theory.

Like Lukács and Gramsci, these theorists focused on ideology and cultural forces as facilitators of domination and barriers to freedom. The contemporary politics and economic structures of the time greatly influenced their thought and writing, as they lived during the height of national socialism. This included the rise of the Nazi regime, state capitalism, and the spread of mass-produced culture.

The Purpose of Critical Theory
Max Horkheimer defined critical theory in the book Traditional and Critical Theory. In this work, Horkheimer asserted that a critical theory must do two important things: It must account for society within a historical context, and it should seek to offer a robust and holistic critique by incorporating insights from all social sciences.

Further, Horkheimer stated that a theory can only be considered a true critical theory if it is explanatory, practical, and normative. The theory must adequately explain the social problems that exist, offer practical solutions for how to respond to them, and abide by the norms of criticism established by the field.

Horkheimer condemned "traditional" theorists for producing works that fail to question power, domination, and the status quo. He expanded on Gramsci's critique of the role of intellectuals in processes of domination.

Critical Theory Today
Over the years, many social scientists and philosophers who rose to prominence after the Frankfurt School have adopted the goals and tenets of critical theory. We can recognize critical theory today in many feminist theories and approaches to conducting social science. It is also found in critical race theory, cultural theory, gender, and queer theory, as well as in media theory and media studies. What Is Critical Theory?

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Theodor Adorno should be added; he collaborated with Horkheimer in 1944's 'The Culture Industry', which predictably describes capitalism as an evil which must be destroyed. To that end, philosophy/social sciences and education must be employed to effect the goal of communism. Critical theory considers even neutral or objective thought as whole-cloth endorsement. We see that in the language used; it is not enough to not be racist, one must be anti-racist. Not enough to be tolerant of alt-sex lifestyles, but one must express advocacy even to the point denying biological science. Equity, not equality. That is, one must accept any delineation of discrimination (oppression) - however whimsical or indulgent - as actual oppression.

It is an attack upon logic itself, and authoritarian, because it must establish a new logic.

 

[McDad]

From "Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy":
While Critical Theory is often thought of narrowly as referring to the Frankfurt School that begins with Horkheimer and Adorno and stretches to Marcuse and Habermas, any philosophical approach with similar practical aims could be called a “critical theory,” including feminism, critical race theory, and some forms of post-colonial criticism. In the following, Critical Theory when capitalized refers only to the Frankfurt School. All other uses of the term are meant in the broader sense and thus not capitalized. When used in the singular, “a critical theory” is not capitalized, even when the theory is developed by members of the Frankfurt School in the context of their overall project of Critical Theory.

 

[NCFisher]

I think this misses the essence of "critical" theory. It's not to be critical of everything but generally takes "truth" as a construction of the parties in power rather than some absolute or universal truth. Since it tends to be more popular with people who disagree with the status quo in whatever field (critical theory is applied in many fields) the output is a critique of the current "truth".

The biggest problem with critical theory is that it doesn't hold up to any form of rigorous validation. Compare that with something like Positivism (much more common view) which relies on rigorous, data-driven validation for items to be considered "truth".

The critical theory response to the validation problem is generally predictable; the entire notion of validation is irrelevant because the validation methods and requirements are constructed by the group in power and thus not valid in an of themselves. It always boils down to the "system" being rigged by those in power to maintain power over the oppressed

Exactly; it attempts to provide structure and a game plan to destroy the market system and individuality, and suffers the same deficiency as its Marxist parentage. People want comfort, security, liberty for themselves and children, and society generally. They are willing to endure sufferings and deprivations of themselves for that to occur in that order. These are primal instincts that Marxism argues can be coerced from the human psyche. That those who can do more will do so even if not improving their lot beyond those who will not or cannot. As someone wittier than me analogized, it assumes the market economy is a pizza; if I have more slices, you have to eat the box. Rather it's a pizza factory and the toppings and sizes are endless.

Or as Walter Williams put it:
“Prior to capitalism, the way people amassed great wealth was by looting, plundering and enslaving their fellow man. Capitalism made it possible to become wealthy by serving your fellow man.”