So, I've dumped on SJWs a lot on here. But at the same time, I also dump on the right. I kind of take pot shots at both sides here. As one right wing friend once told me, I have a way of denying association to both sides while claiming to be superior to both. He meant it like it was a bad thing, but it's true. I AM better than both sides and I'm not afraid to say it. This time I'm gonna dump more on the right than the left, and explain why I think critical theory is a good thing, while also explaining the limitations I have with it (again).
So what is critical theory?
Critical theory is basically a subset of conflict theory. Conflict theory is one of the three paradigms in sociology, and build on my article ripping libertarians, is one of those things that the right just doesn't understand. Conflict theories look at conflict within society between groups and subgroups, and how one group typically is in an advantaged position, and uses their power and influence to subjugate other groups. The original conflict theory is actually Marxism, which looked at how the bourgeoisie (ownership class) screwed the proletariat (workers) and siphoned wealth to the top. What critical theory does, is it tends to look at similar power relationships in society, but between groups like men and women, and blacks and whites. In these analyses of society, sociologists and the like tend to look at how, for example, social conventions and structures work to favor whites over blacks, and men over women. So you got these subsets within liberalism and leftism like feminists and racial activists wanting to solve systemic issues involving those groups. They might look at how the workforce is set up to favor men over women because women take low paying jobs due to socialization or drop out of the workforce to raise kids and do housework, or how things like racial profiling, redlining, and segregated neighborhoods with no opportunities screw over black people. I want to emphasize, these issues are legitimate and DO exist in society. And they should, ideally, be solved in some way.
A lot of people on the right, like libertarians and conservatives, for example, tend to be oblivious to these issues, writing them off as some sort of "politics of oppression" where they're basically just a group of people wanting to cash in on an identity to get free stuff. While I will admit some SJWs do use these politics in such a way to justify that impression (I'll get to that later), I do think that these issues are legitimate and deserve to be addressed.
What are the limitations of critical theory?
Well, the big limitation I have with this theory is that it, in and of itself, should not substitute a larger political ideology. This is where I start crapping on SJWs, but these issues are not the only issues that exist in society, and in my opinion, they are far from the most important. Critical theory is a SUB-theory. Meaning it is merely a specialized lens of a larger theory on society (namely, marxian conflict theory, another valid theory) that focuses on certain relationships within society. It is not an all encompassing ideology or theory of everything. I feel like SJWs and the like get way too wrapped up on dealing with critical theory. To them it is THE WAY to view the world, and everything must be interpreted solely through this lens. It becomes almost cult like, a cult around this specific lens for viewing society.
A benefit of my liberal arts education is I learned fairly early on these ideologies and lenses and disciplines are like tools in a toolbox. Critical theory is an important tool to have, but it is a specialized tool. It is like one of those tiny screwdrivers for eyeglasses. It is useful for repairing eyeglasses, but not much else. Imagine using it as a hammer. That's basically what SJWs are do a lot of broader economic issues as a result of their hyperfocus. They'll hyper focus on issues involving women (see the Clinton or Warren campaigns), or race, and then when someone is like, can we get some healthcare over here? Can we improve labor standards or free ourselves from wage slavery? They'll just be like, but but, check your privilege. Everything in the world, to an SJW, is interpreted through the lens of critical theory. It's all they care about. Outside of critical theory, they're often a craplib (moderate "conservative" liberal in my use of the term) who doesn't care about the biggest issues and think everything is fine. Admittedly, some are marxists and while I still think they over emphasize those issues, I at least admire marxist's consistency, but yeah.
The fact is, you can't discuss any politics without some SJW just turning it into a critical theory influenced discussion. Student loan debt forgiveness is bad because it disproportionately helps white people. Medicare for all doesn't solve the issues with predominantly black hospitals in inner cities. Basic income helps white people too, blacks should get more basic income as a form of reparations, etc. It's ridiculous. They just derail any policy that ever exists, to force everything to be around their stuff.
Don't get me wrong, critical theory is valid and legitimate. And a lot of issues brought up by these guys are worth considering and taking a look at. But at the same time, this lens should not be the primary lens through which all life is views. It is merely one lens. It finds some issues but ignores others, like everything else. An educated person should be able to look at what people across the political spectrum think of an issue and then filter the information to achieve what is the best possible outcome according to their own overarching ideology or theory of everything. Critical theory shouldn't be that overarching ideology or theory of everything. It's too specialized and ignores too much.
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