MAMARIL, Shaira Mae A.

PHL 308
4PHL2 Thought Piece #1

Mamaril on: What is Critical Theory?

Critical Theory if not studied, would give out a confusing connotation with its name.
It enlarges our understanding of the world by perceiving the world from the critiques of
theories towards the social world of human beings; it raises public awareness and helps in
forming engaged and responsible citizens; it enlightens people as to the flaws of the current
order; it increases our sensitivity for universalistic moral values and stimulate our
readiness to stand up for the principles of justice and fairness; it gives one self-knowledge,
foresight and a sense of direction in life; it touches upon our own existence; and makes a
difference and even changes the world.

Man has always been deemed as the dominant animal amongst all the living things
here in the blue planet. We wouldn’t be called as the dominant animal without a distinction
– preserving and communicating design: culture.1 It is obvious that language is the primary
medium of culture that only man is privy to make use of. Man would inevitably feel some
pride at existing but not in the sense of its own labors but through the pinnacle of natural
selection that would provide hope for a still higher destiny in the distant future. Putting
Daniel Dennett’s Emotional Aversions2 regarding the fear of some people about the idea of
human culture in evolutionary terms, they are afraid that their ground and belief that they
cherish would crumble its way down to the dark abyss. Terrified of the truth that lies
beyond those doors, once entered, it would seem impossible to return without it in our
mind blotched like ink in water. Although hope and fear come as contradicting concepts,
they both lead to falsity. The quest for truth is innate to us; truth is our only concern as far
as our reason allows us to discover – turning a blind eye to hopes and fears. Nonetheless,
it’s still essential to acknowledge man’s noble qualities – sympathy, benevolence and
intellect.3 We’re lucky enough that our origins which we evolved from bore these
characteristics. Without all these, there would be no mankind existing; chaos would prevail
and obviously, no man will survive as they dwell upon the cruelty of the world.

1 Other species have some capacity to transmit information “behaviourally” as well as genetically but
they have not developed culture to take off point that our species has. (Dennett, Daniel C. “Darwin’s
Dangerous Idea.” The Sciences, 1995: 39)
2 Dennett, Daniel C. “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea.” The Sciences, 1995: 40
3 We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities, with

sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the
humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and
constitution of the solar system- with all these exalted powers- Man still bears in his bodily frame the
indelible stamp of his lowly origin. (Darwin, Charles, The Descent of Man, 1859. Chapter 21)