Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Critical Thinking and the Question of Critique: Some Lessons from Deconstruction

  • Published:
Studies in Philosophy and Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article provides somephilosophical ``groundwork'' for contemporary debatesabout the status of the idea(l) of critical thinking.The major part of the article consists of a discussionof three conceptions of ``criticality,'' viz., criticaldogmatism, transcendental critique (Karl-Otto Apel),and deconstruction (Jacques Derrida). It is shown thatthese conceptions not only differ in their answer tothe question what it is ``to be critical.'' They alsoprovide different justifications for critique andhence different answers to the question what giveseach of them the ``right'' to be critical. It is arguedthat while transcendental critique is able to solvesome of the problems of the dogmatic approach tocriticality, deconstruction provides the most coherentand self-reflexive conception of critique. A crucialcharacteristic of the deconstructive style of critiqueis that this style is not motivated by the truth ofthe criterion (as in critical dogmatism) or by acertain conception of rationality (as intranscendental critique), but rather by a concern forjustice. It is suggested that this concern should becentral to any redescription of the idea(l) ofcritical thinking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albert, H.: 1985, Treatise on Critical Reason, Princeton University Press, Princeton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alston, K.: 1995, ‘Begging the Question: Is Critical Thinking Biased?’, Educational Theory 45, 225-233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apel, K.-O.: 1973, Transformation der Philosophie. 2 Bde, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apel, K.-O.: 1976, ‘The Transcendental Conception of Language-communication and the Idea of a First Philosophy: Towards a Critical Reconstruction of the History of Philosophy in the Light of Language Philosophy’, in H. Parret (ed.), History of Linguistic Thought and Contemporary Linguistics, De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 32-61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apel. K.-O.: 1980, Towards a Transformation of Philosophy, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apel, K.-O.: 1987a, ‘The Problem of Philosophical Foundations in Light of a Transcendental Pragmatics of Language’, in K. Baynes, J. Bohman and Th. McCarthy (eds.), After Philosophy. End or Transformation? MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp. 250-290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apel, K.-O.: 1987b, ‘Falllibilismus, Konsenstheorie derWahrheit und Letztbegündung’, in Forum für Philosophie (eds.), Philosphie und Begründung, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, pp. 116-211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennington, G.: 1993, ‘Derridabase’, in G. Bennington and J. Derrida (eds.), Jacques Derrida, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biesta, G.J.J.: 1995, ‘Postmodernism and the Repoliticization of Education’, Interchange 26, 161-183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biesta, G.J.J.: 1998, ‘“Say You Want a Revolution...” Suggestions for the Impossibile Future of Critical Pedagogy’, Educational Theory 48, 499-510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biesta, G.J.J.: 1999a, ‘The Right to Philosophy of Education. From Critique to Deconstruction’, in S. Tozer (ed.), Philosophy of Education 1998, Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana-Champaign, pp. 476-484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biesta, G.J.J.: 1999b, ‘Radical Intersubjectivity. Reflections on the “Different” Foundation of Education’, Studies in Philosophy and Education 18, 203-220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burbules, N.C.: 1999, ‘Modes of Criticality as Modes of Teaching’, in S. Tozer (ed.), Philosophy of Education 1998, Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana-Champaign, pp. 485-489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo, J.D.: 1997, Deconstruction in a Nutshell. A Conversation with Jacques Derrida (Edited with a Commentary by John D. Caputo), Fordham University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Critchley, S.: 1999, The Ethics of Deconstruction: Derrida and Levinas (Expanded Second Edition), Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1978, Writing and Difference, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1981, Positions, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1982, Margins of Philosophy, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1987, ‘Some Questions and Responses’, in N. Fabb et al. (eds.), The Linguistics of Writing. Arguments between Language and Literature,Manchester University Press, Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1988, Limited Inc, Northwestern University Press, Evanston, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1991, ‘Letter to a Japanse Friend’, in P. Kamuf (ed.), A Derrida Reader: Between the Blinds, Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 270-276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1992, ‘Force of Law: The “Mystical Foundation of Authority”’, in D. Cornell, M. Rosenfeld and D. Carlson (eds.), Deconstruction and the Possibility of Justice, Routledge, New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1995, Points... Interviews, 1974–1994, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1996, ‘Remarks on Deconstruction and Pragmatism’, in Ch. Mouffe (ed.), Deconstruction and Pragmatism, Routledge, New York and London, pp. 77-88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J.: 1999, ‘Hospitality, Justice, and Responsibility. A Dialogue with Jacques Derrida’, in R. Kearney and M. Dooley (eds.), Questioning Ethics. Contemporary Debates in Philosophy, Routledge, New York and London, pp. 65-83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derrida, J. and Ewald, F.: 1995, ‘A Certain “Madness” MustWatch Our Thinking. An Interview with Jacques Derrida’, Educational Theory 45, 273-291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ennis, R.: 1962, ‘A Concept of Critical Thinking’, Harvard Educational Review 32, 81-111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ennis, R.: 1987, ‘A Taxonomy of Critical Thinking Dispositions and Abilities’, in J. Baron and R. Sternberg (eds.), Teaching for Thinking, Freeman, New York, pp. 9-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, J.: 1999, ‘Reclaiming the Lógos, Considering the Consequences, and Restoring Context’, Educational Theory 49, 317-337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, J. and Phelan, A.: 1990, ‘Toward a Feminist Poetic of Critical Thinking’, in R. Page (ed.), Philosophy of Education 1989, Philosophy of Education Society, Normal, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasché, R.: 1986, The Tain of the Mirror. Derrida and the Philosophy of Reflection, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasché, R.: 1994, Inventions of Difference. On Jacques Derrida, Harvard University Press, Cambride, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haroutunian-Gordon, S.: 1998, ‘Some Issues in the Critical Thinking Debate: Dead Horses and Red Herrings, Anyone?’, Educational Theory 48, 411-425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, D., McLaren, P., Cole, M. and Rikowski, G. (eds.): 1999, Postmodernism in Educational Theory. Education and the Politics of Human Resistance, The Tufnell Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honig, B.: 1993, Political Theory and the Displacement of Politics, Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1992, Critique of Pure Reason (Trans. N. Kemp Smith), St. Martin's Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1956, Kritik der reinen Vernunft. Nach den ersten und zweiten Original-Ausgabe neu herausgegeben von Raymund Schmidt, Felix Meiner, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1982, ‘Ueber Pädagogik’, in I. Kant (ed.), Schriften zur Anthropologie, Geschichtsphilosophie, Politik und Pädagogik, Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, pp. 695-761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1992, ‘An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?’, in P. Waugh (ed.), Postmodernism. A Reader, Edward Arnold, London, pp. 89-95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masschelein, J. and Wimmer, M.: 1996, Alterität, Pluralität, Gerechtigkeit. Randgänge der Pädagogik, Academia/Leuven University Press, Sankt Augustin/Leuven.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, P.: 1995, Critical Pedagogy and Predatory Culture. Oppositional Politics in a Postmodern Era, Routledge, London/New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPeck, J.: 1981, Critical Thinking and Education, St. Martin's, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPeck, J.: 1990. Teaching Critical Thinking, Routledge, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollenhauer, K.: 1973(6), Erziehung und Emanzipation, Juventa, München.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollenhauer, K.: 1982, Theorien zum Erziehungsprozess, Juventa, München.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nietzsche, F.: 1964, Der Wille zur Macht: Versuch einer Umwertung aller Werte, Alfred Kröner, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, C.: 1987, Derrida, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, S. (ed.): 1992. The Generalizability of Critical Thinking, Teachers College Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr, D.: 1989, ‘Just the Facts Ma'am: Informal Logic, Gender and Pedagogy’, Informal Logic 9, 1-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul R.W.: 1992, Critical Thinking, Foundation for Critical Thinking, Santa Rosa, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R.: 1966, Ethics and Education, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Portelli, S.P. and Bailin, S. (eds.): 1993, Reason and Values: New Essays in Philosophy of Education, Detselig Enterprises, Calgary.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rorty, R.: 1980, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Röttgers, K.: 1990, ‘Kritik’, in J.J. Sandkühler (eds.), Europäische Enzyklopädie zu Philosophie und Wissenschaften. Band 2, Felix Meiner Verlag, Hamburg, pp. 889-898.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sas, P.: 1995, ‘Het Geweten van de Transcendentaalfilosofie: Karl-Otto Apel en de Mogelijkheid van Strikte Reflectie’, Tijdschrift voor Filosofie 57, 505-525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1987, Relativism Refuted. A Critique of Contemporary Epistemological Relativsm, Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1988, Educating Reason. Rationality, Critical Thinking and Education, Routledge, New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1990, ‘Why be Rational? On Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking’, in R. Page (ed.), Philosophy of Education 1989, Philosophy of Education Society, Normal, IL, pp. 392-401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1992, ‘The Generalizability of Critical Thinking Skills, Dispositions and Epistemology’, in S.P. Norris (ed.), The Generalizability of Critical thinking, Teachers College Press, New York, pp. 97-108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1995, ‘What Price Inclusion?’, Teachers College Record 97, 6-31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, H.: 1997, Rationality Redeemed? Further Dialogues on an Educational Ideal, Routledge, New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snik, G.L.M. and Zevenbergen, J.K.: 1995. ‘Kritisch Leren Denken: Posities en Problemen’, Pedagogisch Tijdschrift 20, 101-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer-Bacon, B.: 1992, ‘Is Modern Critical Thinking Sexist?’, Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines (September), 323-340.

  • Thayer-Bacon, B.: 1993, ‘Caring and its Relationship to Critical Thinking’, Educational Theory 43, 323-340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer-Bacon, B.: 1998, ‘Transforming and Redescribing Critical Thinking: Constructive Thinking’, Studies in Philosophy and Education 17, 123-148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer-Bacon, B.: 2000, Transforming Critical Thinking: Constructive Thinking, Teachers College Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usher, R. and Edwards, R.: 1994, Postmodernism and Education, Routledge, London and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, K.S. (ed.): 1994, Re-thinking Reason: New Perspectives on Critical Thinking, SUNY Press, Albany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woudenberg, R. van: 1991, Transcendentale Reflecties. Een Onderzoek naar Transcedentale Argumenten in de Contemporaine Filosofie, met Bijzondere Aandacht voor de Transcendentale Pragmatiek van Karl-Otto Apel, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zevenbergen, J.K.: 1997, ‘Twee Rechtvaardigingen van Kritisch Denken en Rationaliteit: Siegel en Apel’, Pedagogisch Tijdschrift 22, 289-308.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Exeter, U.K

    Gert J.J. Biesta

  2. Utrecht University, The Netherlands

    Geert Jan J.M. Stams

Authors
  1. Gert J.J. Biesta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geert Jan J.M. Stams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Biesta, G.J., Stams, G.J.J. Critical Thinking and the Question of Critique: Some Lessons from Deconstruction. Studies in Philosophy and Education 20, 57–74 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005290910306

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005290910306

Search

Navigation