Extending Rationality

Frankfurt School
Marcuse
Enlightenment attempts to free us from superstition via science
Instrumental Rationality marks off one area as rational (Science) the other as irrational
Leads to binary stereotyped symbolic caricature and fear of the excluded

Instrumental rationality leads to a complex beurocracy and technologies disconnected from  mission
Institutions become self serving, expert langauge groups etc.

Individual rational actions are not always socially positive, ecology and market crash

Game theory

Do we attempt to deal with complexity or become a cynic sceptic and act for individual gain.


Habermas (communicative action/discourse)  and Derrida(Deconstruction) argue for extending rationality. Foucault thinks its just a power game...