Horkheimer’s Traditional and Classical Theor

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What is the plausibility of these theories? As Horkenheimer explains, Traditional theory uncritically reproduces the existing society, whilst critical theory articulates activity striving towards society. Critical theory in particular is thus rooted within “critical activity”, standing oppositional to traditional views, whilst maintaining an involvement in a struggle for social change and the unification of theory and practice. Within this context, one finds Horkenheimer using “critique” as the involvement of criticizing oppression and exploitation within its struggle for a better society. Yet, in addition to its critique on the Marxian materialism and economic reductionism and determinism, critical theory also rejects the efforts made to ground Marxism in Proletarian class-consciousness. As a result, the bourgeois might have knowledge about their exploitation, but as a result of the fragmented and undereducated nature of the working class, it is indicated that some workers will fall victim to conservative and reformist tendencies; illustrating the utopian inclination of this view, in that there is no grounded guarantee that this consciousness will be theoretically correct.

As such, one can denote that Horkenheimer argues for the principles associated with Critical theory, in that it attempts to address the shortcomings of a more traditional perspective. Horkenheimer does however mention that the concept of Critical theory “has no material accomplishments to show for itself” and that it is ultimately only a Utopian ideal. Lastly, Horkenheimer finishes by stating that even though in a historical period like the present, true theory is more critical than affirmative, just as the society that corresponds to it cannot be called “productive”. In that event though the future of society is dependent of the present existence of critical attitude, it also contains within it elements from a more traditional perspective, ultimately requiring a more integrated approach all together.