Traditional And Critical Theory Analysis

In Horkheimer’s “Traditional and Critical Theory”he begins with the question “What is theory?”. He explains how theory is something that should be based on fact and should not conflict with facts. He also makes the point that experiences should line up directly with theory, and if they do not one should be re-examined. A theory is a set of propositions that are only true if they equally match with the object they represent. In this essay he makes a distinction between traditional and critical theory. He begins by making the claim that the type of theory used in natural sciences is traditional theory. Traditional theory is mainly focuses on the things that are true or things that can be agreed upon, experiences are not heavily weighted. Like natural sciences, these things are without contradiction, they are facts. Social theory on the other hand is less concerned with facts and more with reason. In this essay I will be examining the distinction between the two in the social sciences and why Horkheimer feels this distinction is important.
Traditional theory contains many propositions that are related due to their consistency with a fact. By separating the facts from the object we are only able to see things as they are and not what they could be. According to Horkheimer, this is limiting. Traditional theory is only useful when trying to understand how society works and limits our capabilities to think of how society could progress or change. By being able to critique change in society we are able to understand the society we live in more. Traditional theory however is not wrong for the belief in collection of data. While knowing and understanding things as they are is important, this theory alone does not suffice for the main prop...

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...individual is critiquing society he should also coordinate his cognitive process with society. Critiquing society involves being able to criticize society enough to want social change. Examining the subjugation in a society allows for society to not reproduce itself. Traditional theory does not address its connection with society therefore does not critique society and continues a cycle of reproducing society as it is. Critique in Critical theory involves observing the disruption and conflict that causes for struggle within a society.
To Horkheimer, Traditional theory lacks the ability to promote change. In fact, maintaining the status quo is the only thing Traditional Theory focuses on. This theory is designed to be a quick response to society. Although it is projected to capture the core of knowledge, the concept actually focuses on the advancement of production.