Alford, C. Fred - Science and the Revenge of Nature: Marcuse and Habermas

SCIENCE IN the work of Herbert Marcuse and Jürgen Habermas is worthy of consideration for several reasons. First, it is an interesting topic in its own right. Second, their different concepts of science seem to act as lenses through which they view nature and humanity's relationship to it. Humanity's relationship to nature has always played a central role in critical theory. Considering Marcuse's and Habermas' views of science helps in understanding how and why the concept of nature is so central to this tradition. Their works also suggest why certain environmental problems are apparently so intractable. Third, this focus upon their views of science illuminates and clarifies their theories of knowledge.