Philosopher: Max Horkheimer Philosophical Orientation: early critical theory Philosophical Attitude: pathos, critical theory Guilty of: associated with Adorno Action: guilt by association Results: see Adorno
Philosopher: Herbert Marcuse Philosophical Orientation: early critical theory Philosophical Attitude: Erotic, power of negative thinking Guilt of: crypto-theologian Action: unmask mystical understanding of instincts Results: restore language and understanding as motor of critical theory
Philosopher: Richard Rorty Philosophical Orientation: neo-pragmatism, deconstructionist sympathizer Philosophical Attitude: "Who cares? So what?" Guilty of: groundless relativism Action: demonstrate link between speech acts, validity claims and justification Results: short circuit colonial ethnocentrism
Philosopher: Karl Popper Philosophical Orientation: critical rationalist Philosophical Attitude: "knowledge for the sake of knowledge alone" Guilty of: positivism Action: demonstrate the scientific investigation relies upon the normative standards common to democratic politics Results: undermine false objectivity of scientism
Philosopher: Agnes Heller Philosophical Orientation: praxis philosophy Philosophical Attitude: theoretical pluralism Guilty of: decisionism Action: show that strategic action is derived from and parasitic on previously assumed capacity for communicative action Results: avoids blind actionistic consequences
Philosopher: Jacques Derrida Philosophical Orientation: deconstruction Philosophical Attitude: indeterminate Guilty of: aestheticization of politics Action: critique self-defeating skepticism, demonstrate unavoidable value orientations Results: places limits of aesthetic sphere, avoids collapsing distinctions between science, morality and art.
Philosopher: Michel Foucault Philosophical Orientation: (reluctant) post-structuralism Philosophical Attitude: genealogical Guilty of: over-determination of the category of power Action: supplement theory of power with theory of communicative action Results: undermines lack of normative foundation
Philosopher: John Rawls Philosophical Orientation: social contract theorist Philosophical Attitude: proceduralist Guilty of: insufficient motivation for participation Action: establish link between rational procedures and validity Results: retain unity of reason in procedural form, correct inadequate treatment of concerns regarding legitimacy
Philosopher: Hans-Georg Gadamer Philosophical Orientation: hermeneutics Philosophical Attitude: dialogical Guilty of: rehabilitating prejudice Action: demonstrate limits of hermeneutic inquiry Results: overcome cultural conservatism
Philosopher: Cornelius Castoriadis Philosophical Orientation: praxis philosopher Philosophical Attitude: project of autonomy Guilty of: lived in Paris, monadic subjectivism Action: emphasis on intersubjectivity Results: avoids atomization of subject through theory of socialization
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