This page aims to make learning about critical theory as easy as possible by bringing together the best articles, podcasts, and videos from across the internet onto one page. To get started, simply choose one of the resources listed below:
Encyclopedia Articles
This section features articles from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The SEP is probably the most comprehensive online philosophy resource. It features in-depth articles on a huge number of philosophical topics, however, it is aimed at an academic audience and may be too detailed and technical for beginners. The IEP is generally more beginner-friendly but is also considered to be less reliable. Wikipedia is also an option, but it is much less reliable than either of these.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Articles
This section features short articles written by professional philosophers and aimed at a general audience. These articles are ideal for anyone looking for a shorter or more beginner-friendly introduction to critical theory than the encyclopedia articles listed above.
Aeon
- How the Frankfurt School diagnosed the ills of Western civilisation
- Why the Enlightenment was not the age of reason
The Conversation
- The philosopher who was too hot for playboy
- Cultural Marxism and our current culture wars: Part 1
- Cultural Marxism and our current culture wars: Part 2
The Guardian
- Why a forgotten 1930s critique of capitalism is back in fashion
- ‘Cultural Marxism’: a uniting theory for rightwingers who love to play the victim
- The Frankfurt school, part 1: why did Anders Breivik fear them?
- The Frankfurt school, part 2: Negative dialectics
- The Frankfurt school, part 3: Dialectic of Enlightenment
- The Frankfurt school, part 4: Herbert Marcuse
- The Frankfurt school, part 5: Walter Benjamin, fascism and the future
- The Frankfurt school, part 6: Ernst Bloch and the Principle of Hope
- The Frankfurt school, part 7: what’s left?
- The Frankfurt school, part 8: where do we go from here?
Miscellaneous
- The Frankfurt School Knew Trump Was Coming
- The Naysayers
- If you want to understand the age of Trump, you need to read the Frankfurt School
Podcasts
This section features episodes from leading philosophy podcasts. These are also aimed at a general audience and are a good option for beginners who prefer audio content.
In Our Time
The Philosopher’s Zone
The Partially Examined Life
New Books in Philosophy
- The Frankfurt School in Exile – New Books Network [1:13:38]
Miscellaneous
- Always Already – A critical theory podcast
Short Videos (<30 mins)
This section features short videos aimed at beginners.
- Radical thinkers: Max Horkheimer’s Critique of Instrumental Reason
- Sociology – Theodore Adorno
- Cultural Marxism and Political Correctness
Lectures/Longer Videos (>30 mins)
This section features longer videos and lectures. These tend to be less beginner-friendly and aimed at a more academic audience.
- Rick Roderick on Marcuse – One Dimensional Man [45:22]
- Herbert Marcuse and the Frankfurt School (1977) – Bryan Magee Interview [44:05]
- The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory – Yale Courses [51:36]
Course Syllabi
See this collection of critical theory course syllabi.
Books
See this list of the best books on critical theory.
The Daily Idea aims to make learning about philosophy as easy as possible by bringing together the best philosophy resources from across the internet. To get started, check out this organized collection of 400+ articles, podcasts, and videos on a wide range of philosophical topics.
A Collection of the Greatest Philosophical Quotations
