The Origins of Critical Theory

The discussion highlights the historical roots of critical theory, tracing it back to the Frankfurt School in the 1930s and 1940s, where figures like Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse established key principles. This theory evolved from earlier Marxist ideas articulated by theorists such as Karl Marx and Georg Hegel, focusing on self-consciousness and societal changes. The podcast emphasizes the ideological struggles faced by Marxist thinkers in interpreting the failures of revolution in places like Russia and Germany, which spurred a critical examination of why working-class individuals gravitated towards nationalism instead of Marxism. The subsequent interpretations led to various adaptations, including critical race theory and queer theory, which are viewed as modern applications of fundamental critical theory principles.