Critical Theory of Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to the plurality of sciences—examining how different sciences are shaped by different power structures, how disciplinary boundaries reflect social hierarchies, and how the sciences together form a system that can both illuminate and obscure. Critical Theory of Sciences asks: Why are some sciences prestigious and others marginal? How do disciplines police their borders? What knowledge is excluded when sciences define themselves? It studies the politics of disciplinarity, the economics of research, and the social construction of scientific authority across fields. Not one science, but many—each with its own politics.

"Physics at the top, sociology at the bottom—that's not just about rigor. Critical Theory of Sciences asks: what power structures create that hierarchy? Who benefits? What knowledge gets excluded when we rank sciences? The sciences are many, and their arrangement reflects society's values, not just nature's. Critical theory maps the politics of the whole scientific field."

Critical Theory of Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026

Critical Theory of Sciences

The plural form, recognizing that different sciences require different critical approaches—that a critical theory of physics will differ from a critical theory of biology, which will differ from a critical theory of economics. Critical Theory of Sciences is the project of developing field-specific critiques while maintaining the broader critical commitment to examining power, assumptions, and social relations. It's the recognition that critique must be tailored to context, that one size does not fit all, that each science has its own history, politics, and possibilities.

Example: "The conference brought together critical theorists from every discipline, each presenting field-specific analyses. The common thread was attention to power; the diversity was in how power operated in different contexts. Critical Theory of Sciences was proving to be many things, not one."

Critical Theory of Sciences by Abzugal March 9, 2026

Critical Theory of Social Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to the social sciences—examining how disciplines like sociology, political science, and economics are shaped by power, how they can serve domination or liberation, and how they might be transformed. Critical Theory of Social Sciences asks: How have social sciences justified inequality? How have they been complicit in colonialism, racism, sexism? How might they serve struggles for justice? Drawing on Marx, Foucault, feminist theory, and critical race theory, it insists that social science is never neutral—it's always political. The question is which politics it serves.

"Economics says markets are efficient. Critical Theory of Social Sciences asks: efficient for whom? At what cost? Markets produce winners and losers—economics that ignores that is ideology. Social science can describe or it can critique. Critical theory chooses critique—not for its own sake, but for justice."

Critical Theory of Social Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026

Critical Theory of Human Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to all disciplines studying human life—psychology, anthropology, history, linguistics, and more—examining how they've been shaped by power, how they've served domination, and how they might serve liberation. Critical Theory of Human Sciences asks: How have these disciplines constructed "the human" in ways that exclude? How have they pathologized resistance, exoticized difference, erased alternatives? It doesn't reject the human sciences but insists they must be self-aware, reflexive, and accountable. Studying humans requires understanding the politics of studying humans.

"Psychology pathologized homosexuality; anthropology exoticized 'primitive' cultures. Critical Theory of Human Sciences asks: what other violences hide in our disciplines? The human sciences study humans, but they're also human—flawed, political, complicit. Critical theory demands they remember that, reflect on it, and do better."

Critical Theory of Human Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026

Critical Theory of Cognitive Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to the cognitive sciences—examining how assumptions about mind, brain, and cognition reflect social values, how cognitive science can reinforce hierarchy, and how it might serve liberation. Critical Theory of Cognitive Sciences asks: Whose mind is studied? Whose cognition counts as normal? How do concepts like "intelligence" and "rationality" carry cultural baggage? How might cognitive science be complicit in ableism, racism, or neurotypical bias? It doesn't reject cognitive science but insists it must be self-aware about its assumptions and its politics.

"They study 'intelligence' as if it's universal. Critical Theory of Cognitive Sciences asks: whose definition? Developed where? Serving what interests? Intelligence tests were used to justify eugenics. Cognitive science that forgets its history repeats it. Critical theory insists on asking: what values are built into our models of mind?"

Critical Theory of Cognitive Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026

Critical Theory of Evolutionary Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to evolutionary biology and related fields—examining how evolutionary stories reflect social values, how they've been used to justify hierarchy, and how they might be told differently. Critical Theory of Evolutionary Sciences asks: Why do we emphasize competition over cooperation? How have evolutionary explanations been used to naturalize patriarchy, racism, or class inequality? Could evolution be told as a story of mutual aid, plasticity, and possibility? It doesn't deny evolution but insists that evolutionary narratives are never just science—they're also stories, and stories have politics.

"They say competition is natural—look at evolution. Critical Theory of Evolutionary Sciences asks: look at all the cooperation in nature, too. Why emphasize competition? Because it serves capitalist ideology. Evolution happened, but the stories we tell about it reflect our values. Critical theory insists on telling different stories—stories of solidarity, not just survival of the fittest."

Critical Theory of Evolutionary Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026

Critical Theory of Formal Sciences

The application of Critical Theory to the formal sciences—mathematics, logic, computer science, and related fields—examining how even these seemingly pure disciplines are shaped by social contexts and power relations. Critical Theory of Formal Sciences asks: How do mathematical concepts reflect cultural values? How has logic been used to exclude? Whose interests are served by treating formal sciences as neutral? Drawing on critical mathematics education, feminist critiques of logic, and philosophy of computer science, it insists that no knowledge is value-free—not even 2+2. Understanding formal sciences requires understanding the society that produces them.

"Math is universal, they say. Critical Theory of Formal Sciences asks: universal for whom? Developed where? Mathematics has history, culture, politics. It's been used to justify racism (intelligence testing), to enable surveillance (algorithms), to concentrate power. Formal sciences aren't neutral; they're human products. Critical theory insists on asking: what values are built into the equations?"

Critical Theory of Formal Sciences by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026