Critical theory and communicative action

Abstract

I hesitate to say this, but I am afraid that this chapter, more than most thus far, is rather long on the social theory and short on nursing practice. There is a reason for this. The topic that we are going to examine is not at all easy. Embedded as it is in the complex intellectual world of German philosophy, there is no quick way of explaining it. On the grounds that a rapid sweep would merely leave readers puzzled, I have opted for going through critical theory at a deliberating pace. The chapter starts by examining the roots of critical theory in classical German philosophy. It then goes on to address the ideas of the first wave of critical theorists, paying especial attention to Horkheimer, Adorno and Marcuse. I then move on to the central figure of the discussion, Jürgen Habermas, and his theory of communicative action. Following this, we get to health care issues. Two approaches are taken. First, I review critical theory critiques of medicine, and then I go on to recount my own Habermasian analysis of the adoption of communicative action in new nursing.