Outline of critical theory

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to critical theory:

Critical theory is a social, historical, and political school of thought and philosophical perspective which centers on analyzing and challenging systemic power relations in society, arguing that knowledge, truth, and social structures are fundamentally shaped by power dynamics between dominant and oppressed groups. Beyond just understanding and critiquing these dynamics, it explicitly aims to transform society through praxis and collective action with an explicit sociopolitical purpose.


Essence of critical theory

Concepts

Branches of critical theory

Actor–network theory

Commonly used terms

African-American studies

Gender studies

Marxist theory

Commonly used terms

Postcolonialism

Structuralism

Post-structuralism

Commonly used terms

Deconstruction

Commonly used terms

Postmodern philosophy

Reconstructivism

Psychoanalytic theory

Commonly used terms

Schizoanalytic theory

Commonly used terms

Queer theory

Semiotics

Commonly used terms

Literary theory

Commonly used terms

Theories of identity

  • Private sphere – certain sector of societal life in which an individual enjoys a degree of authority, unhampered by interventions from governmental or other institutions. Examples of the private sphere are family and home. The complement or opposite of public sphere.
  • Public sphere – area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action. It is "a discursive space in which individuals and groups congregate to discuss matters of mutual interest and, where possible, to reach a common judgment".
  • Creolization

Major works

Major theorists

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj Felluga, Dino Franco (2015). Critical Theory: Key Concepts. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-69565-7.