Includes bibliographical references (pages 483-499) and index

pt. 1. Critical theory : the Frankfurt school. The formation of the Institute od social research -- Class, class conflict and the development of capitalism : critical theory and political economy -- The culture industry : critical theory and aesthetics -- The changing structure of the family and the individual : critical theory and psychoanalysis -- The critique of instrumental reason : critical theory and philosophy of history -- Horkheimer's formulation of critical theory : epistemology and method 1 -- Adorno's conception of negative dialectics : epistemology and method 2 -- Marcuse's notions of theory and practice : epistemology and method 3 -- pt. 2. Critical theory : Habermas. Introduction to Habermas -- Discourse, science and society -- Interests, knowledge and action -- The reformulation of the foundations of critical theory -- pt. 3. The importance and limitations of critical theory. An assessment of the Frankfurt school and Habermas -- The concept of critical theory