Against Orthodoxy: Social Theory and Its Discontents (Political Philosophy and Public Purpose)

Essays on major figures in 20th century social theory from a radical, critical perspective";In Against Orthodoxy, the author engages some of the most provocative thinkers of the 20th century, including Georg Lukacs, Antonio Gramsci, Herbert Marcuse, Karl Marx, Harry Braverman and Paulo Freire. All of these social and political theorists were dedicated to fundamental social change, but many were forced to recognize the difficulty of achieving change in the modern world. This book demonstrates that all of them reject conventional interpretations of how radical change might be possible. What marks their unity is an effort to address capitalism's ability to incorporate widespread popular alienation. Consequently they urge serious attention by radicals to issues of culture, subjectivity, and education" In Against Orthodoxy, The Author Engages Some Of The Most Provocative Thinkers Of The 20th Century, Including Georg Lukacs, Antonio Gramsci, Herbert Marcuse, Karl Marx, Harry Braverman And Paulo Freire. All Of These Social And Political Theorists Were Dedicated To Fundamental Social Change, But Many Were Forced To Recognize The Difficulty Of Achieving Change In The Modern World. This Book Demonstrates That All Of Them Reject Conventional Interpretations Of How Radical Change Might Be Possible. What Marks Their Unity Is An Effort To Address Capitalism's Ability To Incorporate Widespread Popular Alienation. Consequently They Urge Serious Attention By Radicals To Issues Of Culture, Subjectivity, And Education-- Essays On Major Figures In 20th Century Social Theory From A Radical, Critical Perspective-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- 1. The Unknown Herbert Marcuse -- 2. Between Criticism And Ethnography: Raymond Williams And The Invention Of Cultural Studies -- 3. A Critique Of Methodological Reason -- 4. George Lukacs's Destruction Of Reason -- 5. Henri Lefebvre: The Ignored Philosopher And Social Theorist -- 6. Gramsci's Theory Of Political Organization -- 7. Max Horkheimer's Critical Theory -- 8. Paulo Freire's Radical Democratic Humanism -- 9. Herbert Marcuse's Concept Of Eros -- 10. Marx, Braverman And The Logic Of Capital. Stanley Aronowitz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The book contains groundbreaking and immersive essays on crucial 20th Century scholars on social theory, discussed and analyzed from a radical, critical theory perspective. Aronowitz provides his unique and lauded critical eye toward the leading thinkers of our age, crafting an immersive set of essays on radical thought. In Against Orthodoxy, the author engages some of the most provocative thinkers of the 20th century, including Georg Lukacs, Antonio Gramsci, Herbert Marcuse, Karl Marx, Harry Braverman and Paulo Freire. All of these social and political theorists were dedicated to fundamental social change, but many were forced to recognize the difficulty of achieving change in the modern world. This book demonstrates that all of them reject conventional interpretations of how radical change might be possible. What marks their unity is an effort to address capitalism's ability to incorporate widespread popular alienation. Consequently they urge serious attention to issues of culture, subjectivity, and education Review: "Stanley Aronowitz is a national treasure and he proves it once again with Against Orthodoxy. Every page bristles with brilliance as he weaves his way through the work of some of the intellectual giants of social theory. Not only does this book provide a witness to public memory, it also ties together different strands of social theory while providing a historical and relational context for understanding the writers and theories under discussion. This book is invaluable for both academics and the wider public; a gift to theory and why it matters-a gift to all of us struggling for a better and more just world." - Henry Giroux, McMaster University, Canada, Author of The Violence of Organized Forgetting Front Matter....Pages i-viii The Unknown Herbert Marcuse....Pages 1-19 Between Criticism and Ethnography: Raymond Williams and the Invention of Cultural Studies....Pages 21-34 A Critique of Methodological Reason....Pages 35-57 Georg Lukács’s Destruction of Reason....Pages 59-72 Henri Lefebvre: The Ignored Philosopher and Social Theorist....Pages 73-91 Gramsci’s Theory of Political Organization....Pages 93-104 Max Horkheimer’s Critical Theory....Pages 105-111 Paulo Freire’s Radical Democratic Humanism....Pages 113-127 Herbert Marcuse’s Concept of Eros....Pages 129-142 Marx, Braverman, and the Logic of Capital....Pages 143-179 Back Matter....Pages 181-189