ABSTRACT
As philosophers and social theorists used reason to chip away at premodern understandings, society became dangerously vulnerable to new ways of thinking. In his inaugural lecture in January 1931, Professor Horkheimer began to clarify a conceptual framework, which would later become known as Critical Theory. The German social theorist Max Horkheimer was appointed professor of social philosophy in 1930 and also officially became the first director of the institute. At this time, Theodor Adorno had just finished his degree and was appointed as a lecturer in philosophy. Critical theory is reflective. Horkheimer and Adorno argue that theoretical discourse is the effect or outcome of a deeper, implicit foundation. In this sense, the structure of theory consists of a superstructure and substructure. Critical theory is dialectical. Horkheimer and Adorno used this phrase in at least three different ways in their social theories.
