P. Walsh, Skepticism, modernity and critical theory

Sudarsan Padmanabhan

pp. 405-412

in: Human Studies 29 (3), 2006.

Abstract

In this work, Philip Walsh forcefully argues that the philosophical legacy of the Frankfurt School has a very strong epistemological character inspired by Hegel’s writings on philosophical skepticism. Walsh disputes the prevalent categorization that critical theory founded by the Frankfurt School is primarily Marxist and anti-philosophical. Walsh’s project is divided into three segments. They are: 1. Historicist view of human society, 2. Emancipatory view of knowledge defined by Marxist sociology, and 3. A conception of reason derived from the modernity especially Hegel.