Critical Theory and Education - Cynicism and Rationalism

Running head: CRITICAL THEORY AND EDUCATION
CRITICAL THEORY AND EDUCATION
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CRITICAL THEORY AND EDUCATION
Critical theory states that societies of humans are pathological and to understand the
latter one needs to know about its causes. People can find these causes within the ideology,
culture, religion, language and economic of society (Higgs and Smith 2017). The theory also
states that power structure not only dominates the economic and social life but also shape the
way humans think (How 2017). Therefore critical theory focuses on cynicism as well as
rationalism. It focuses on people to make them realise how they are being moulded by the
society and exploited by the latter (Higgs and Smith 2017). Hence, the primary aim of the
essay is to discuss about critical theory from various viewpoints.
Critical theory also challenges the way modern schooling has shaped itself and claims
to change the way people think regarding education as well as practice. Critical theory
criticises the way in which modern schooling imparts knowledge to children. According to
the theory only dominant ideologies are passed on young as well as impressionable mind that
has a long term effect on them (Higgs and Smith 2017). The theory states instead of
empowering people through education modern schooling is disempowering people by
teaching them to be passive. It states that people should emancipate themselves and change
their thought regarding knowledge (Higgs and Smith 2017). The theory is also hesitant
towards that is used in the classroom as technology has now made people dependent on it that
makes people lonely and feel alienated. Modes of communication has been affected (Higgs
and Smith 2017).
Theodor Adorno wrote many books on education like ‘Theory of Half Education’,
‘Education after Auschwitz’ and others. His most famous writing where he has blatantly
written his views on education is Education after Auschwitz (Snir 2017). According to
Adorno Auschwitz took place because the students of Germany and Europe was taught about
authoritarianism and treat people as well as themselves as cogs and consider achiness to be
more powerful than humans (Higgs and Smith 2017). Therefore, Adorno stated that in all