Critical Theory Vocabulary

noun a method of argument involving dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view

adjective relating to or using dialectic

• The philosopher engaged in a rigorous dialectic with his colleague to explore different perspectives on the topic.
• We had a dialectic about which movie to watch, but couldn't agree on anything.
• The online debate turned into a heated dialectic with people throwing insults left and right.
• The dialectic between tradition and innovation is a constant struggle in the fashion industry.

noun a point of view or way of thinking about a particular issue or situation

• From a scientific standpoint, the results of the experiment were inconclusive.
• From my standpoint, I think we should go with the first option.
• Dude, from my standpoint, this movie is a total snooze fest.
• Looking at the issue from a different standpoint can sometimes provide new insights.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific thing or set of things, such as 'epistemic trespassing'

• Epistemic trespassing occurs when individuals make claims or assertions outside their area of expertise.
• It's like when someone acts like they know everything about a topic they have no knowledge of - that's epistemic trespassing.
• People who think they're experts on everything are just straight up epistemic trespassers.
• Just because you watched a documentary doesn't mean you can go around epistemically trespassing on every subject.

noun the process of regarding something abstract as a material or concrete thing

• The process of reification involves treating abstract concepts as if they were concrete objects.
• Reification is when you make something abstract seem real or concrete.
• People need to stop reifying their problems and start facing them head on.
• In literature, reification can be seen as giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects.

noun a disagreement or difference of opinion

adjective relating to disagreement or dissent

• The dissensus among the members of the committee led to a prolonged debate.
• There was dissensus within the group about which movie to watch.
• The dissensus between the two friends caused tension in their relationship.
• The dissensus in opinions created a storm of conflicting ideas.