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of the morę generalized theoretical knowledge. »Historical develop-ment of contradictions in which the critical thought plays its role, alters the importance of some of its moments, compels differentiation and modifies the significance of specific knowledge of the critical theory and practice^{1 2}.¹¹ The dialectical idea about the concrete naturę of truth is clearly expressed in this endeavour to use generał theoretical knowledge in the study of the actual condition of society, making theoretical ideas morę concrete.

It is necessary to emphasize that in both its broader theoretical and actual concrete forms, the critical theory is invariably relevant, to society as a whole, and that it implies the practical interest and desire for society to progress toward increasing substantial rationality (ZJer-nunft). This abstract determination of the historical meaning of theoretical involvement has been deliberately used because it embraces - precisely because of its universality - the interpretations of the prae-tical meaning of theory held by all the representatives of this school of thought. In the next chapter we shall consider their conception of reason. For a better understanding of the critical theory’s opposition to other contemporany systematic theories of society, we shall quote Horkheimer’s thought that »rational interest in abolishing class society², as implied in the theory, was an »abstract expression of the materialistic content of the idealistic notion of reason«.² It is in the pursuance of this interest and determination that truth about the theory, and the intellectual basis of its critical function will be found. »The emphatic notion of truth implies at the same time a proper (ricli-tig) organization of society, although the latter cannot be painted as an image of the futurę. Reducłio ad kominem, which inspires critical enlightenment, has for its substance man than its to be created in a society which governs itself. In the existing society his only index is social untruth«.^2a The inclusion of a rational possibility into the theory, based on the interest of realizing this possibility, is regarded as a precondition for a deeper understanding of the existing society. »That which is given is madę available only to that view which regards it from the aspect of a genuine interest, interest in a free society, in a just State and in man’s development. He who does not measure human things by what they themselves want to mean, sees them not only superficially but also erroneously«.³ The critical theory may well co-incide with the results of research carried out by other scientific dis-ciplines, and no one challenges the generał epistemological demand for theoretical propositions to be sufficiently explicit and for their relationship with experiential evidence⁴ to be clearly demonstrated,

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1

'² Ibid., p. 285.

*    Ibid., p. 292. In latcr definitions of reason and rational interest, their socio-historical meaning is not as clearly outlined, which can partly be explaincd by »diplomatic« proceedings for the sake of survival in evil time.

Th. W. Adorno, »Zur Logik der Sozialwissenschaften«, Kólner Zeitschrift fur Soziologie und Sozialpsyekologie, 14 Jhrg. (1962), H. 2, p. 263.

2

   Institut fur Sozialforschung, Soziologische Exkurse, Frankfurter Bcitrage zur Soziologie, Europaische Verlagsanstalt, Frankfurt a. M., 1956, p. 18.

*    M. Horkheimcr, »Traditionelle und kritische Thcorie«, p. 292.