scholarly journals Dialectics as immanent critique. Or, dialectics as both ontology and epistemology with a practical intention

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39
Author(s):  
Tong Shijun
Keyword(s):  
Critical Theory ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Human Knowledge ◽  
Western Tradition ◽  
Chinese Tradition ◽  
Dialogical Logic ◽  
Immanent Critique ◽  
Human Practices

This response to Asger S?rensen?s paper From Ontology to Epistemology: Tong, Mao and Hegel is made on the basis of a reflection on the author?s intellectual development with special reference to the idea of ?dialectics?. This development is mainly composed of three periods, in which the author formed his strong antipathy toward dialectics as a mere tool of power (in the 1970s), learnt to understand the importance of ?dialogical logic? in providing conceptual tools for human knowledge of a type of reality which is both objective and subjective - human practices (in the 1980s) - and attempted to understand the ?dialectics of rationalization? by integrating ?dialectics? in the Western tradition of Critical Theory with the Chinese tradition of ?dialectics? systematically interpreted by Feng Qi (1915-1995) since the 1990s.

scholarly journals Life in the nuclear age: Classical realism, critical theory and the technopolitics of the nuclear condition

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Columba Peoples
Keyword(s):  
Critical Theory ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
The United States ◽  
Critical Awareness ◽  
Nuclear Age ◽  
Immanent Critique ◽  
Classical Realism ◽  
Post War ◽  
Production Industry ◽  
Nuclear Condition

Classical realist thought provides a diagnosis of the significance nuclear weapons that calls into question the very possibility of politics in the nuclear age. While sharing similarities with this outlook, critical theoretic reflections suggest a more expansive consideration of the nuclear condition as underpinned by combinations of dystopian fears of nuclear destruction and utopian visions of nuclear futures. Most prominently Herbert Marcuse’s critical theory intimates an understanding of the nuclear condition as one that is rendered tolerable so long as nuclear technologies are associated with and related to innovation, progress and modernity. The study of the technopolitics of the nuclear condition might thus look not only to classical realists’ concern with ‘Death in the Nuclear Age’ but also incorporate corresponding critical awareness of claims to the life-sustaining applications of nuclear technologies in areas such as energy production, industry and medicine. Applying an ‘aporetic’ form of immanent critique, and to exemplify how the international politics of the nuclear age has often been predicated on efforts to distinguish and relate different kinds of nuclear technologies, the article revisits the United States–led post-war vision of ‘Atoms for Peace’ and compares it to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s contemporary ‘How the Atom Benefits Life’ campaign.

Critical Theory and the Critique of Capitalism: An Immanent Critique of Nancy Fraser's “Systematic” “Crisis-Critique” of Capitalism as an “Institutionalized Social Order”

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-235
Author(s):  
Chris O'Kane
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Capitalist Society ◽  
Critical Social Theory ◽  
Alternative Possibility ◽  
Systematic Theory ◽  
Immanent Critique ◽  
Nancy Fraser

The predominant approach to contemporary critical theory lacks a critical theory of capitalist society. Nancy Fraser has endeavored to provide such a critical theory in her “systematic” “crisis–critique” of capitalism as an “institutionalized social order.” Yet Fraser's “systematic” theory is not systematic, but fragmentary and internally inconsistent. The Marxian premises of Fraser's theory are at odds with its ensuing Habermasian notions of capitalism, contradiction, crises, and emancipation, and her theory consequently lacks a robust explication of these dynamics. This raises the alternative possibility of developing a contemporary critical theory of the crisis–ridden reproduction of the negative totality of capitalist society that brings Adorno and Horkheimer's critical theory together with the subterranean strand of contemporary critical theory: the New Reading of the critique of political economy as a critical social theory.

scholarly journals For an immanent critique of a neoliberal form of life

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 362-386
Author(s):  
Bárbara Buril ◽  
Alessandro Pinzani
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Specific Form ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
World Population ◽  
Form Of Life ◽  
The World ◽  
Immanent Critique ◽  
Normative Problem

This paper departs from the assumption that the critique of neoliberalism should not restrict itself to a criticism of an economic project. Another possible criticism of neoliberalism consists of a critique of how this specific form of life forms subjects. In this paper, we argue that a critique of a form of life is only justified in a reasonable way if it starts from the experiences of suffering produced by this form of life. As we will show, we must criticise neoliberalism not because it is inadequate for solving problems, since for a specific portion of the world population it has been extremely effective, but because it causes suffering. Suffering, unlike mere unsolved problems, represents sufficient grounds for highlighting the existence of a normative problem in a form of life. According to Max Horkheimer, the first step of a critical project committed to the transformation of a form of life are the crises of the present, which are not fully understood through the theoretical tools of “problem solving” or “learning processes”, as Rahel Jaeggi resorts to in her critical theory of society.

scholarly journals "Die onvoltooide reformasie van Martin Luther (1483-1546) ʼn Verkenning van die filosofiese grondslae van sy denke met spesiale aandag aan sy tweerykeleer "

2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barend van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Special Reference ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
William Of Ockham ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
The Real ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Theological Perspective ◽  
Left And Right

The incomplete reformation of Martin Luther (1483-1546); a reconnaissance of the philosophical foundations of his thinking with special reference to his two-kingdom doctrine During the past five hundred years the studies written from a theological perspective on Luther’s thinking could fill a whole library, while not much is available about the deeper worldviewish-philosophical presuppositions of his intellectual development. Therefore this investigation traces the relevant late medieval influences on his thinking, especially the philosophy of William of Ockham (1285-1349). Special attention is given to the three phases in Luther’s development and his much debated two-kingdom doctrine, distinguishing between the rule of God’s left and right hand. Questions like the following will be discussed: When and why did this double-focus view of reality originate? What were the real issues which Luther tried to solve with such a paradigm? Could it be maintained in the light of God’s threefold revelation in creation, in Scripture and finally in Christ? Could it be regarded – as some contemporary Reformed theologians suggest – as a genuine Reformational approach? Should it not rather be viewed as an unfinished reformation, calling for continuous reformation? Samevatting Die afgelope 500 jaar het, in vergelyking met die magdom teologiese literatuur, min oor die diepere lewensbeskoulik-filosofiese grondslae van Luther se denkwêreld die lig gesien. Tot ʼn mate is dit verstaanbaar omdat hy primêr ʼn hervormer van kerk en teologie was. Ter herdenking van die gebeure op 31/10/1517 handel hierdie ondersoek oor die invloed van die laat-Middeleeuse filosofiese denke, in besonder dié van Willem van Ockham (1285-1349), op die reformator van Wittenberg. Daar word aangetoon hoe hy deur drie hoof fases ontwikkel het en daarna word spesiale aandag gegee aan sy bekende en omstrede leer van twee ryke, dié van God se linker- en regterhand. Onder andere die volgende vrae word in dié verband gestel. Wanneer en waarom het hierdie dubbelfokusvisie op die werklikheid ontstaan? Wat was die probleme wat Luther met so ʼn paradigma wou aanspreek? Kan so ʼn lewensvisie in die lig van God se drievoudige openbaring in die skepping, die Skrif en Christus gehandhaaf word? Kan dit – soos sekere Gereformeerde teoloë vandag weer suggereer – as werklik reformatories beskou word? Moet Luther se Christelike lewensbeskouing nie eerder gesien word as ʼn onvoltooide reformasie wat tot verdere reformasie roep nie?

Immanente Kritik und soziales Leben

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvi Särkelä
Keyword(s):  
Critical Theory ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Social Criticism ◽  
Social Philosophy ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
Philosophical Critique ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Immanent Critique

Based on a close reading of the works of Hegel, Dewey and Critical Theory, this book develops the concept of an immanent-critical, naturalistic social philosophy. In a first step, the author sketches a conception of immanent critique as a self-transformative social practice which consists in a dialogue between the philosopher and the everyday critics. This is followed by a cartography of the ontological presuppositions and metaphysical implications required of a successful philosophical critique of society according to Hegel and Dewey. The book develops a concept of the social which is not purely normative; the social is not separated from the rest of nature, but articulated as a peculiar process of life. Finally, social criticism is portrayed as an art that transforms this social life.

Transcendence in Postmetaphysical Thinking. Habermas' God

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maeve Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Practical Reason ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Critical Social Theory ◽  
Mutual Learning ◽  
Communicative Reason ◽  
Human Practices

Habermas emphasizes the importance for critical thinking of ideas of truth and moral validity that are at once context-transcending and immanent to human practices. in a recent review, Peter Dews queries his distinction between metaphysically construed transcendence and transcendence from within, asking provocatively in what sense Habermas does not believe in God. I answer that his conception of “God” is resolutely postmetaphysical, a god that is constructed by way of human linguistic practices. I then give three reasons for why it should not be embraced by contemporary critical social theory. First, in the domain of practical reason, this conception of transcendence excludes by fiat any “Other” to communicative reason, blocking possibilities for mutual learning. Second, due to the same exclusion, it risks reproducing an undesirable social order. Third, it is inadequate for the purposes of a critical theory of social institutions. 

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