Philosophy and Critical Pedagogy

In Marcuse’s hitherto misunderstood and neglected philosophy of labor is reconsidered, resulting in a labor theory of ethics. Revolutionary strategy and a common-ground political program against intensifying inequalities of class, race, and gender comprise the book’s commonwealth counter-offensive.

Charles Reitz studied philosophy at Freiburg University, attaining his PhD in educational studies from the State University of New York. He is the author of and editor of

«We live in a time of great unrest. The effects of racism, economic exploitation, and other forms of social oppression are beginning to be contested in many pockets of our society. In these times, Charles Reitz’s new book is a must-read for those who are seeking a new theoretical framework for addressing recent structures and mechanisms of alienation and exploitation. This book provides us with a history of dialectics as well as insights into how dialectical thinking can help us grasp and transform our society. The conversation created between Marx, Marcuse, and Manheim is very informative. One of the greatest contributions by Reitz is his rethinking of the idea of commonwealth. Those of us who are interested in further developing our democratic experiment will gain much from this book.» (Arnold L. Farr, Professor of Philosophy, University of Kentucky) «Reitz’s groundbreaking essays, engaging the work of Marx, Marcuse, and Manheim, demonstrate how we might reformulate our relationship with labor, a central component of a liberated society. Reitz provides hope that we can develop, through critical education, an emancipatory consciousness and the radical praxis from which a liberated society may emerge.» (Sarah Surak, Assistant Professor, Departments of Political Science and Environmental Studies, Salisbury University, Maryland) «This volume persuasively restores philosophy to its rightful and necessary place in education. From investigations of historical experience, through critiques of conservative figures, Reitz arrives at new ways critical theory can revive our entire culture. And this is achieved with such clarity and resolve that the reader comes away understanding socialist humanism could save us after all.» (Fred Whitehead, co-editor, )

«We live in a time of great unrest. The effects of racism, economic exploitation, and other forms of social oppression are beginning to be contested in many pockets of our society. In these times, Charles Reitz’s new book is a must-read for those who are seeking a new theoretical framework for addressing recent structures and mechanisms of alienation and exploitation. This book provides us with a history of dialectics as well as insights into how dialectical thinking can help us grasp and transform our society. The conversation created between Marx, Marcuse, and Manheim is very informative. One of the greatest contributions by Reitz is his rethinking of the idea of commonwealth. Those of us who are interested in further developing our democratic experiment will gain much from this book.» (Arnold L. Farr, Professor of Philosophy, University of Kentucky) «Reitz’s groundbreaking essays, engaging the work of Marx, Marcuse, and Manheim, demonstrate how we might reformulate our relationship with labor, a central component of a liberated society. Reitz provides hope that we can develop, through critical education, an emancipatory consciousness and the radical praxis from which a liberated society may emerge. » (Sarah Surak, Assistant Professor, Departments of Political Science and Environmental Studies, Salisbury University, Maryland) «This volume persuasively restores philosophy to its rightful and necessary place in education. From investigations of historical experience, through critiques of conservative figures, Reitz arrives at new ways critical theory can revive our entire culture. And this is achieved with such clarity and resolve that the reader comes away understanding socialist humanism could save us after all.» (Fred Whitehead, co-editor, )

Contents: Education and Struggle – Materialism and Dialectics: Nature, History, and Knowing – The Dialectic of the Concrete Concept: Ernest Manheim – Liberating «the Critical» in Critical Theory – The «Linguistic Turn» and Anti-Foundationalism – Herbert Marcuse and the New Culture Wars: Campus Codes, Hate Speech, and the Critique of Pure Tolerance – Education Against Alienation – The Labor Theory of Ethics and Commonwealth – Global Capitalism and Radical Opposition: Herbert Marcuse’s Paris Lectures at Vincennes University, 1974 – Critical Education and Political Economy: Labor, Leadership and Learning – Decommodification and Liberation: Commonwealth as Aesthetic Form of an Alienation-Free Society – The Commonwealth Counter-Offensive – Engaging a Radical Past: Socialist Germans in N.Y.C., 1853 – Engaging a Radical Past: Anti-Racism in Kansas Free State Struggle, 1854.