Why still critique

pages: 9-42

Abstract

This paper is attempting to mark dilemmas, de-montage and pre-composition of philosophy that have been noticeable in its self-understanding, for the past few decades. As an answer to the cardinal question, three different and competing strands have been singled out - suggested and represented by Adorno, Habermas and Rorty - where the philosophy believes it could continue to appear. It has been detected, however, that the problem of survival and legitimisation of critique in modern philosophy has been, at first, identified with the question of survival of philosophy itself. Philosophy that has found itself on defense, but without loosing all illusions regarding its mission, it seems to see its last retreat and safe resort in the critical function of philosophy, traditionally understood as continual search for the truth. Nevertheless, politically situated, des-invested, even renouncing that enlightenment figure it seems that for the philosophical theory - more or less transformed - there is still place for autonomous action that is not without direct social consequences. . Keywords: critic, philosophy, truth, freedom, enlightenment, literature, politics