Critical-Dialectical Discourse Definition

There are many different ways to define critical-dialectical discourse, but at its core, it is a way of thinking and talking about the world that emphasizes both the need for critical analysis and dialectical reasoning. In other words, it is a way of looking at the world that sees things in terms of complex relationships and systems, rather than simply as isolated objects or events.

This type of discourse has its roots in the work of German philosopher Karl Marx, who argued that all social phenomena must be understood in terms of the underlying economic structures and relations of production. This understanding requires a careful analysis of both the material conditions of people’s lives and the ideas that they hold about the world.

Marx believed that these two types of analysis were interconnected and mutually reinforcing. For example, he argued that people’s consciousness is shaped by their material conditions, but that their material conditions are also shaped by their consciousness. This dialectical relationship between economic structures and consciousness is at the heart of critical-dialectical discourse.

In recent years, critical-dialectical discourse has been taken up by a number of scholars working in fields such as sociology, anthropology, political science, and philosophy. These scholars have used it to analyze a wide range of social phenomena, from global capitalism to everyday interactions between people.

If you’re interested in learning more about critical-dialectical discourse, there are a number of excellent books and articles that have been written on the subject.