For dialectical social theory, correct basic insight into society outranks extensive specialized knowledge.
Evidence
Unlike metaphysical intuition, social theory did not ignore the results of specialized scientific research. But whether one possessed certain basic insights into the nature of society was more decisive than whether one did or did not possess extensive specialized knowledge. The boundary which one might draw nowadays between people, according to the amount of knowledge they possess, would therefore have to focus less on the extent of their academic knowledge than on certain signs in their behaviour in which their attitude to social struggles is expressed. When it is necessary, knowledge in other areas will come to someone who already possesses the decisive insights. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 200
Categorization
- DEFINE: This is Horkheimer’s own criterion for what separates competent social theorists from mere specialists — a key methodological boundary for the Institute’s programme.
- XREF: Echoes the Frankfurt critique of positivist/disciplinary specialization and Adorno’s later positivism dispute. — connects to: Social theory depends on insight into society’s nature more than on specialized knowledge. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 730
- yield-rescued: below the book’s yield-target cutoff, included anyway for connecting to: Social theory depends on insight into society’s nature more than on specialized knowledge. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 730
Broader Connections
- Social theory depends on insight into society’s nature more than on specialized knowledge.
#corroborates(0.95) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 730