Consider the following quote taken from the essay “Traditional and critical theory” by Max Horkheimer:

“Although [critique] itself emerges from the social structure, its purpose is not, either in its conscious intention or in its objective significance, the better functioning of any element in the structure. On the contrary, it is suspicious of the very categories of better, useful, appropriate, productive, and valuable, as these are understood in the present order, and refuses to take them as nonscientific presuppositions about which one can do nothing.”

Explain what you think this quote means. What is critical theory as opposed to traditional theory?

Next select two of the three concepts below. Each is drawn from one of this week’s readings. Explain how each concept is a critique of the other perspective I pair it with.

1) Self-technology (from the Michel article) and the shareholder perspective

2) Complaining (from the Ahmed book) and the stakeholder perspective

3) Primitive accumulation (from the YouTube video) and the institutional perspective