法兰克福学派批判理论的历史观缘起于对“正统”马克思主义。无批判的实证主义”的质疑。通过反思现代性、理性同一性、概念帝国主义的实质.以人的实践的超越本性为核心的自觉的历史性、实践性扣批判性的文化精神.对作为传统人本主义理论基石并代表着整个西方工业文明本质的启蒙精神提出了质疑与批判。从而揭示了人类的历史就是启蒙摧毁神话和销蚀自身的历史。依照批判理论的历史观。历史不是启蒙理性所勾勒的那幅人类战胜自然的宏伟蓝图,不是启蒙理性不断开辟新疆域而一路高歌猛进的宏伟历程。而是在当代所制造的西方文明进步的理性形而上学神话中注定了启蒙自身的悲剧性历史命运。
View of history of critical theory of the Frankfurt School originated in the question of the "orthodox" Marxism "uncritical positivism". It interrogated and criticized the spirit of the enlightenment which has been seen as the theoretical cornerstone and the whole western industrial civilization through its reflection on the essence of modernity, rational identity, the concept of imperialism and reflection on the consciously historical, practical, and the critical cultural spirit whose core is practice beyond nature. Even, it revealed that the history of human is that the enlightening destroyed myth and eroded itself. According to the critical theory view of history, history is not the grand blueprint which people overcome the nature outlined by the enlightenment rationalism. Nor is grand journey of Enlightenment rationalism constantly opening up a new frontier surging. Really, it doomed to a tragic historical destiny of the Enlightenment it- self in the rational metaphysical myths of Western civilization and progress which manufactured by the con- temporary.