Traditional, Problem-Solving and Critical Theory: An Analysis of Horkheimer and Cox’s Setting of the ‘Critical’ Divide

2018 ◽  
pp. 64-78
Author(s):  
Shannon Brincat
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Traditional Problem

scholarly journals For an immanent critique of a neoliberal form of life

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 362-386
Author(s):  
Bárbara Buril ◽  
Alessandro Pinzani
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Specific Form ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
World Population ◽  
Form Of Life ◽  
The World ◽  
Immanent Critique ◽  
Normative Problem

This paper departs from the assumption that the critique of neoliberalism should not restrict itself to a criticism of an economic project. Another possible criticism of neoliberalism consists of a critique of how this specific form of life forms subjects. In this paper, we argue that a critique of a form of life is only justified in a reasonable way if it starts from the experiences of suffering produced by this form of life. As we will show, we must criticise neoliberalism not because it is inadequate for solving problems, since for a specific portion of the world population it has been extremely effective, but because it causes suffering. Suffering, unlike mere unsolved problems, represents sufficient grounds for highlighting the existence of a normative problem in a form of life. According to Max Horkheimer, the first step of a critical project committed to the transformation of a form of life are the crises of the present, which are not fully understood through the theoretical tools of “problem solving” or “learning processes”, as Rahel Jaeggi resorts to in her critical theory of society.

All Hazards Analysis

2006 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl Essam ◽  
Hussein A. Abbass
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Artificial Life ◽  
Biological Warfare ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Traditional Problem ◽  
System Components ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Safety Applications

With the increase in the complexity of terrorism’s networks and activities, the advances in chemical and biological warfare, and the use of organized criminal activities, it is becoming apparent that dealing with this complexity is not possible with traditional problem-solving approaches. The artificial complexity area (Artificial Life, or ALife), complex systems and agent-based distillation (ABD) provide a new perspective to the problem and emphasize the importance of modeling the interaction between system components to tackle these issues. This chapter presents an introduction to Cellular Automota and ABD, and then reviews and critiques how these approaches specifically have been used to model aspects of bushfires, epidemics, biological warfare and terrorism. This chapter then extends upon previous works to present an overview of the possible use of artificial complexity models to the larger field of security and safety applications.

Teaching International Organization

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret P. Karns
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Institution Formation ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Governance Arrangements

The teaching of international organization (IO) poses unique challenges. One is deciding whether to take a broad global governance-IO approach dealing with the creation, revision, and enforcement of rules that mark different governance arrangements, the roles of formal, informal, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental IOs, and the politics, dynamics, and processes of problem-solving and governance in various issue areas, a theory-driven approach, or an IOs approach focusing primarily on select formal intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and possibly nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), emphasizing structures, charters, mandates, and functions. Either choice could lead one to utilize recent literature on IGOs (and to a lesser extent NGOs) as organizations and bureaucracies, examining their design, functions, and performance or behavior. Another is the extent to which various international relations as well as IO-related theories such as theories of cooperation, regime and institution formation and evolution, functionalism, constructivism, and others are integrated into an IO course. To what extent are students introduced to currents of critical theory such as postmodernism, Marxism, feminism, and postcolonialism in relationship to IOs? There is also the question of which IGOs—global and/or regional—to include given the range of possibilities. How all the abovementioned issues are addressed will strongly influence choices with regard to textbooks, other readings, and various types of electronically available materials.

scholarly journals Refuting misconceptions: Computer tutors for fraction arithmetic

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-377
Author(s):  
Sabrina M. Di Lonardo Burr ◽  
Heather Douglas ◽  
Maria Vorobeva ◽  
Kasia Muldner
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Strategy Selection ◽  
Tutoring System ◽  
Traditional Problem ◽  
Computer Tutoring ◽  
Erroneous Examples ◽  
Arithmetic Performance

Fractions, known to be difficult for both children and adults, are especially prone to misconceptions and erroneous strategy selection. The present study investigated whether a computer tutor improves fraction arithmetic performance in adults and if supplementing problem solving with erroneous examples is more beneficial than problem solving alone. Seventy-five undergraduates solved fraction arithmetic problems using a computer tutoring system we designed. In a between-subjects design, 39 participants worked with a problem-solving tutor that was supplemented with erroneous examples and 36 participants worked with a traditional problem-solving tutor. Both tutors provided hints and feedback. Overall, participants improved after the tutoring interventions, but there were no significant differences in gains made by the two conditions. For students with low prior knowledge about fraction arithmetic, the numerical gains were higher in the erroneous-example group than the problem-solving group, but this effect was not significant. Thus, computer tutors are useful tools for improving fraction knowledge. While erroneous examples may be particularly beneficial for students with low prior knowledge who may hold more misconceptions, more research is needed to make this conclusion.

scholarly journals Beyond the metropolis? Popular peace and post-conflict peacebuilding

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 2535-2556 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID ROBERTS
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Sustainable Peace ◽  
The People

AbstractThe debate on peacebuilding is deadlocked. Leading scholars of ‘fourth generation’ peacebuilding, who take Liberalism to task for creating what they refer to as crises in peacebuilding, have themselves been challenged by those they criticise for over-stating Liberal failure and failing themselves to produce the goods in terms of an alternative. But behind this debate, it seems that both approaches are asking the same question: how can stable, legitimate, sustainable peace be engineered? This article engages critical theory with problem-solving social sciences. It proposes that the crises in orthodox post-conflict peacebuilding are genuine, but there are approaches that might put flesh on fourth generation concepts without bringing the Liberal edifice down, shifting the debate away from ontology and ideology and returning it to the people in whose name it is held.

Geschichte als Realexperiment

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46
Author(s):  
Falko Schmieder
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Real Experiment ◽  
The Real

The essay analyzes the transformation of the metaphor »real experiment« (Realexperiment) as part of a critical theory of modernity into an instrument for empirical research and pragmatic problem solving. This transformation has come at a cost. I argue that in the wake of its systematization the concept of the real experiment has lost the ability to engage with certain types of problems. Given this detrimental shift, it becomes all the more important to rediscover the term’s older layers of meaning and how they might be useful in confronting current experiences of how history tends towards autonomization.

Rethinking resilience planning: from problems to potential

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera M. Novak ◽  
Nieves Fernandez-Anez ◽  
Koichiro Shiraishi
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traditional Problem ◽  
The Future ◽  
Way Of Thinking ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Purpose Planning for the future can become mired in fixing the problems of the present. To create alternative solutions, planning must break free of the boundaries and assumptions of existing paradigms. The purpose of this paper is to explore an alternative way of thinking that reframes the issues from problems of “what is” to the potential of “what could be” in the context of socio-ecological resilience. Design/methodology/approach A case study reviews the limitations revealed during a traditional problem-solving exercise on the topic of Coastal Eco-Cities, as well as the innovations resulting from the rethinking of the issues through the lens of the alternative paradigm. Findings A key finding is the significance of linguistic modality, shifting from objective expressions to subjective dialogue. Originality/value The originality of this approach is the emphasis on the framing of the problem before the development of the solution and the methodological implications of this early dialogue.

Is critical theory always for the white West and for Western imperialism? Beyond Westphilian towards a post-racist critical IR

2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 91-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN M. HOBSON
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Critical Theory ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Ir Theory ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Western Imperialism ◽  
East And West ◽  
Political Project ◽  
Leading Schools ◽  
Western Civilisation

ABSTRACTIn appraising critical IR theory after twenty-five years, this article begins by asking whether critical theory implicitly reinforces the ‘superiority’ of Western civilisation and naturalises Western imperialism. In revealing the Eurocentrism of much of critical IR theory the article proceeds to reconstruct it by steering it in fresh non-Eurocentric directions. This is not to say that extant critical theory is moribund since it undoubtedly has much to offer. But it is to say that until the problem of Eurocentrism is exorcised from its body theoretique, critical theory inadvertently lies in danger of joining the ranks of problem-solving theories. The first two sections deconstruct the leading schools of critical IR theory – Gramscianism, postmodernism and feminism – to reveal their frequent lapsing into Eurocentrism, while the final section seeks to decolonise ‘Westphilian’ critical IR by reconstructing a ‘post-racist IR’. And this in turn leads on to the conclusion, which sketches out a post-racist emancipatory political project that can help begin the urgent task of effecting global reconciliation between East and West.

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