[FRA:] Totalizing critiques

[matthew piscioneri]

Yes, I realize I had "exploded" the narrow category of CT> Chomsky does not belong to "critical theory", > though indeed he does have a critique. Chomsky > doesn't believe there is such a thing as social > theory. I thought "critical theory" was bounded > in some way and does not include everyone.
 
I guess it depends on whether you use CT (FS tradition, which is very bounded), or critical theory (aka critical social theory) which is a derivative of the Marxian tradition which is derivative of the Kantian tradition of critique.
 
> What s an exaggerated emphasis? How about the > elimination of history and culture? 
 
I think Marx in _GE_ pretty well understood what an "exaggerated emphasis" was :
 
"The production of ideas, of conceptions, of consciousness is at first directly interwoven with the material activity and the material intercourse of men, the language of real life..." (p47)
 
A critical semiotics either inverts this or ignores altogether the materiality of human existence. And a little retrogression is required to shatter the contemporary poetic delusions of many feeble minded thinkers. One insight generated by our discussion Ralph is to recognize the Romantic fusion by some hilarious *thinkers* of a radical subjectivity and a sort of "all is text" notion whereby these latter day Zarathustras see themselves literally as the bearers of a world-historical cultural identity. 
 
> But you don't present any clear ideas as to how they could be combined.
 
However unsatisfactory, I think Habermas's work sought to find a compromise between the real/ideal tendencies in C19/20th critical thinking. 
 
> There is also a rudimentary biologism in Marcuse, > embodied in his incorporation of Freud, and > manifested in his scurrilous attacks on Fromm.
 
Yes, after I posted I realized I'd overlooked Marcuse's instinct theory especially in Eros/Civilization. Thanks for noting it.
 
MP
 
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