Definitions

Geodesic Ball

Theory: Systematically organized knowledge applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances, especially a system of assumptions, principles and rules of procedure devised to analyze a given set of phenomena. A theory is such knowledge or such a system distinguished from experiment or practice.

Social theory: is part of the study of society that deals with social rules or principles. Social theorists attempt to put forth a concept of society and are skilled in the theoretical rather than the practical aspects of a subject.

Systems: in philosophy, an attempt to bring together interrelated ideas which seem to form a collective entity.

Critical Theory: any social theory that is at the same time explanatory, normative, practical and self-reflective. Critical theory evaluates negative qualities in light of current social practices. It is practical in that it aims to provide better self-understanding for agents who wish to improve social conditions. The overall aim of critical theory is emancipation. In order to remove limits to human freedom and the causes of suffering, a theory must be capable of transformative effects.

Critical theorists often construct alternative epistemologies. In contrasting critical theory with non-critical theory, the latter attempts to describe relations between social conditions, whereas the more critical Marxist theory attempts to reveal how certain social practices require false beliefs about them by their participants. Critical theory is also practical because in disillusioning participants, it makes them capable of transformative action; it is self-reflective in that is shows why some practices require illusions and others not and why social crises and conflicts will lead agents to try and change circumstances; and scientific because it shows historical evidence and can be revised in light of better theories. Marx proposed his theory was superior due to its special Hegelian “dialectical method”. (Dialectic: thesis (idea) + antithesis (argument/rejection of idea) = synthesis (compromise to new idea).