Teorias políticas tradicionais e teoria crítica

Abstract

This article defends, firstly, that every political theory is intrinsically and unavoidably normative, even when it claims to be merely descriptive and empirical. In doing so, the article establishes a central difference between "externalist" normative theories and normative theories that choose a position of immanent critique. Secondly, it takes a position that is close to the one defended by Horkheimer in 1937 and Adorno in 1961, that of the necessity of developing a critical theory of society that refuses positivism and scientism and acknowledges the contradictions inherent to its own subject. To this end, it shall offer some remarks about possible paths for a Critical Theory capable of understanding and criticizing contemporary society.