Explore how critical theory evolved from the Frankfurt School's mission to not just understand society but transform it, revealing hidden power structures that limit human freedom across disciplines.

Criado por ex-alunos da Universidade de Columbia em San Francisco
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Criado por ex-alunos da Universidade de Columbia em San Francisco

Lena: Hey Miles, I was reading about critical theory the other day, and I realized I've heard the term thrown around a lot, but I'm not entirely sure what it actually means. Is it just another way of saying "being critical of things"?
Miles: Not exactly, Lena. Critical theory is actually a specific philosophical approach that emerged from the Frankfurt School in Germany in the early 20th century. What's fascinating is that unlike traditional theories that just try to explain society, critical theory explicitly aims to change it.
Lena: Wait, so it has an agenda built into it? That's different from what I expected.
Miles: Exactly! It's rooted in Marxist thought but expanded way beyond economics. The Frankfurt School philosophers like Adorno, Horkheimer, and Marcuse were living through the rise of Nazi Germany and mass consumer culture, and they were trying to understand why people accept domination and oppression.
Lena: That makes sense given the historical context. I'm guessing they weren't just academic observers then?
Miles: Right. They believed that intellectuals shouldn't just describe social problems but should actively work to uncover the hidden power structures that prevent human freedom. What's really interesting is how critical theory has evolved to influence everything from feminist theory to media studies today. Let's explore how this philosophical tradition developed and why it remains so influential across so many disciplines.