Critical Theory and Methodology [Paperback]

Critical Theory traces its roots from Marxism, through the renowned Frankfurt School, to a wide array of national and cultural traditions. Raymond Morrow's book traces the history and outlines the major tenets of critical theory for an undergraduate audience. He exemplifies the theory through an analysis of two leading social theorists: J[um]urgen Habermas and Anthony Giddens. Unique to this volume is the emphasis on the link between Critical Theory and empirical research and social science methodology, often thought to be incompatible.Critical Theory traces its roots from Marxism, through the renowned Frankfurt School, to a wide array of national and cultural traditions. Raymond Morrow's book traces the history and outlines the major tenets of critical theory for an undergraduate audience. He exemplifies the theory through an analysis of two leading social theorists: J[um]urgen Habermas and Anthony Giddens. Unique to this volume is the emphasis on the link between Critical Theory and empirical research and social science methodology, often thought to be incompatible.Until recently James Bohmans New Philosophy of Social Science was the major text that engaged the relationship between contemporary critical theory and the methodology of social science. Raymond Morrows work is a welcome addition to such analysis. Indeed in many ways it is a better text for introducing the subject. Whilst Bohmans study tended to assume quite a substantive knowledge base Morrows text is instantly lively and accessible making it a text that can be used at all levels of higher educational learning.
Starting with a lucid introduction to the history of critical theory and its intent, Morrow moves on to discuss what make critical theory so distinctive, specifically because of its understanding and analysis of how power affects all dimension of human life. Importantly this critique, unlike many other contemporary variants, also has a political ethical intent. Stemming back to tlӱ