130 | Max Horkheimer: What Makes Critical Theory Critical? Artwork

What's Left of Philosophy

In What’s Left of Philosophy Gil Morejón (@gdmorejon), Lillian Cicerchia (@lilcicerch), Owen Glyn-Williams (@oglynwil), and William Paris (@williammparis) discuss philosophy’s radical histories and contemporary political theory. Philosophy isn't dead, but what's left? Support us at patreon.com/leftofphilosophy

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What's Left of Philosophy

130 | Max Horkheimer: What Makes Critical Theory Critical?

March 06, 2026 • Lillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris • Season 1 • Episode 130

0:00 | 1:04:23

In this episode we talk about Max Horkheimer’s essay “Traditional and Critical Theory”, which serves as a kind of manifesto for the Frankfurt School of Marxist thought. We talk about how he defines these categories, reflect on whether the distinction holds up, and ask ourselves whether we can call ourselves critical theorists in the present. It turns out grasping oneself as part of a historically unfolding social totality is difficult, if you can believe it.

Special thanks to our friends at the Critical Theory Working Group, who you should check out:

https://ctwgwebsite.github.io/

https://jamescrane.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web

leftofphilosophy.com | @leftofphil | @leftofphilosophy.bsky.social

References:

Max Horkheimer, Critical Theory: Selected Essays, trans. Matthew J. O’Connell and others (New York: Continuum, 2002).

Music:

“Vintage Memories” by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com

“My Space” by Overu | https://get.slip.stream/KqmvAN