본문 바로가기
  • Home

Nietzsche’s Philosophy in the Development of the Critical Theory of Frankfurt School - Focusing on the Interpretation of Max Horkheimer -

전석환 1

1경기대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The problematic concept of the ‘Kritik’ in the critical theory of Frankfurt school is currently arisen from its functional perspectives. The problem mostly comes from two ways. One is from the defender who identifies it with the expansion of the category of the ‘Kritik.’ The other is from the extreme pessimist who regards it as the dissolution of the ‘Kritik,’ and who denies the critical theory itself. This is, in a sense, not the present problem of the critical theory, rather it is a problem being existed since long. It dues to the philosophy of Max Horkheimer who is one of the members of the earlier critical theory. All this problem is caused from Horkheimer’s critical theory which has an acute tension against the ‘traditional theory’ and does not enough hold an intentionally obvious tension with the thoughtful axis of the traditional theory as well. The content and category of the ‘Kritik’ concept of the critical theory show the unique modes of change since Horkheimer’s earlier philosophy. Thus the change even ironically allows different interpretation to each other. Nietzschean philosophical meaning might be understood with this irony, and the portrait of Nietzsche that Horkheimer understands overlaps in different characteristics. That is, Nietzsche has the two characters of an ironist and an idol-destroyer at the same time. In other words, Nietzsche, for Horkheimer, has an ironical meaning that upsurges a conflicting emotion. This irony works a basic norm when we judge Horkheimer’s interpretation of Nietzsche. And further, In this article I bring Horkheimer’s various approaches of Nietzsche and so want to understand his ideas of ‘the foundation of the critical reason’ and ‘the self-criticism of the reason.’

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.