Max Horkheimer’s mature works on theology and Schopenhauerian metaphysics have been portrayed by subsequent critical theorists as an illicit regression from his earlier social theory in a two-fold sense. First, his concern to reflect on empirical experience is replaced with speculation regarding intelligible concepts, i.e. concepts that do not arise from observation on the basis of sense-intuition but are rather products of “pure” reason (God) or the imagination (Schopenhauer’s will). Second, his advocacy of the Enlightenment as an emancipatory political project is replaced by its skeptical critique. I argue that this consensus radically misunderstands the concerns animating the late Horkheimer insofar as his reflections on intelligible concepts are both intimately related to a continuing concern with empirical inquiry, as well as an outworking of his commitment to the realization of the Enlightenment. The argument is presented in three related movements. In the first, I interpret Horkheimer’s oeuvre in terms of his pervasive interest in developing a materialist logic. I begin by outlining his early understanding of thought as a form of inquiry for embodied social subjects (chapter 1), before noting how, in his mature theorizing, this account serves as a basis for a presentation of the relationship between various kinds of inquiry and the practice of social critique (chapter 2). In the second, I contend that Horkheimer’s critique of instrumental reason is best understood as congruent with this materialist logic, not as a speculative departure from an earlier concern with empirical inquiry. I begin by examining Horkheimer’s empirical analysis of how historical changes in the basic institutions defining political economy in modern life affect the reasoning habits of subjects (chapter 3). I then turn to his diagnosis of the way such changes affect the selfunderstanding of modern subjects, leading to a pervasive form of alienation (chapter 4). In the final movement, I present Horkheimer’s turn to theological concepts of the intelligible as a therapeutic response to this alienation. First, I examine his understanding of the content of theological concepts as well as how such concepts may be preserved in a form appropriate to modern life (chapter 5), and conclude by illustrating his own attempt at such a retrieval in his late reflections on the Jewish liturgy (chapter 6). In the conclusion, I note that this interpretation offers a constructive challenge to philosophers concerned with the tradition of critical theory. On the one hand, Horkheimer articulates what would be required for the fulfillment of the Enlightenment project in terms critical theorists will recognize as their own, by offering an account of the social practices that are necessary for the self-determination of the subject. Yet his presentation contests a fundamental axiom of such theorists regarding the role intelligible concepts ought to play in seeking this goal. Horkheimer defends an account of the significance of the liturgy for practices of reasoning that is quiet foreign to such theorists. Instead of setting liturgical reasoning over against a militantly “secular” Enlightenment, he demonstrates that such reasoning is integral to its fulfillment.

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Nosso objetivo é analisar as bases naturalísticas da teoria da investigação de John Dewey. Primeiramente apresentamos os fundamentos biológicos de sua teoria lógica da investigação. Com efeito, em sua Lógica Teoria da Investigação, uma de suas mais importantes obras, o naturalismo do filósofo defende a continuidade entre operações investigadoras e operações e funções biológicas, sendo que estas preparariam o caminho para aquelas. Em seguida, a exposição das bases culturais da teoria evidencia o importante papel da linguagem na investigação, mostrando que há uma transformação gradual da conduta puramente orgânica em conduta inteligente. Em nossa pesquisa, analisa-se ainda a relação de continuidade vista por Dewey entre senso comum e ciência, e também o padrão comum, por ele estabelecido, de toda investigação humana. / Our goal is to analyze the bases of naturalistic theory of inquiry of John Dewey. First we present the biological foundations of his logical theory of inquiry. Indeed, in his Logic - Theory of Inquiry, one of his most important works, the naturalism of the philosopher argues for continuity between operations researchers and operations and biological functions, and these prepare the way for them. Then, the exposure of the cultural foundations of the theory highlights the important role of language in research, showing that there is a gradual transformation of the conduct purely organic in conduct intelligent. In our research, we analyze further the relationship of continuity seen by Dewey between common sense and science, and also the common standard, established by it, to all human inquiry.

Nosso objetivo é analisar as bases naturalísticas da teoria da investigação de John Dewey. Primeiramente apresentamos os fundamentos biológicos de sua teoria lógica da investigação. Com efeito, em sua Lógica Teoria da Investigação, uma de suas mais importantes obras, o naturalismo do filósofo defende a continuidade entre operações investigadoras e operações e funções biológicas, sendo que estas preparariam o caminho para aquelas. Em seguida, a exposição das bases culturais da teoria evidencia o importante papel da linguagem na investigação, mostrando que há uma transformação gradual da conduta puramente orgânica em conduta inteligente. Em nossa pesquisa, analisa-se ainda a relação de continuidade vista por Dewey entre senso comum e ciência, e também o padrão comum, por ele estabelecido, de toda investigação humana. / Our goal is to analyze the bases of naturalistic theory of inquiry of John Dewey. First we present the biological foundations of his logical theory of inquiry. Indeed, in his Logic - Theory of Inquiry, one of his most important works, the naturalism of the philosopher argues for continuity between operations researchers and operations and biological functions, and these prepare the way for them. Then, the exposure of the cultural foundations of the theory highlights the important role of language in research, showing that there is a gradual transformation of the conduct purely organic in conduct intelligent. In our research, we analyze further the relationship of continuity seen by Dewey between common sense and science, and also the common standard, established by it, to all human inquiry.

Cette étude a été réalisée dans le cadre d’une maîtrise en Aménagement. Elle s’efforce à démontrer que l’étape d’un projet que l’on appelle problématisation, c’est-à-dire l’étape de construction des problèmes à être résolus, permet de s’assurer que les actions entreprises soient en cohérence et en pertinence avec le contexte du projet. Nous constatons désormais que nous ne pouvons plus nous contenter d’évaluer les projets sur la seule base de son efficience, c’est-à-dire la concordance de ses résultats avec les objectifs prévus. Dans ces circonstances, nous émettons l’hypothèse que la problématisation fait appel à des compétences particulières et généralement peu utilisées par rapport à d’autres étapes de la réalisation d’un projet. À cet égard, nous avons réalisé un travail de recherche exploratoire sur ce thème en ayant comme objectif d’obtenir une compréhension des compétences mobilisées lors de la problématisation en situation de projet en général et d’identifier plus spécifiquement ces compétences dans une situation de projet en particulier, celle des projets de coopération internationale. Pour y arriver, nous avons procédé à la construction d’un référentiel d’emploi et d’activités pour en déduire un référentiel de compétences de la problématisation. Pour ce faire, nous avons réalisé une étude de cas sur les projets de stage de coopération internationale. L’utilisation de la technique de l’« instruction au sosie » et d’une rechercheintervention nous ont permis de dégager les principaux résultats suivant: la problématisation fait appel à des compétences particulières de gestion de l’information et de médiation. Les compétences générales de problématisation que les responsables des stages dans les organisations de coopération internationale v doivent maîtriser sont : être capable de générer les disponibilités de projets à partir de données primaires et secondaires; être capable de faire des choix et de justifier ces choix en fonction de l’analyse des données; être capable de présenter des informations écrites claires, respectueuses des idées des partenaires en fonction du langage de projet utilisé par le public auquel s’adresse la proposition; être capable d’utiliser les commentaires des évaluateurs pour améliorer un projet et être capable de mener à terme un projet. La contribution principale de ce travail de recherche réside dans la proposition d’un outil précieux pour le recrutement et la sélection, l’évaluation du rendement, la formation et le perfectionnement des acteurs de la problématisation. / This study was realized within the framework of a master’s degree in Design and Complexity. It tries to demonstrate the importance of problem building in projects, allowing the action to be in coherence and in relevance with the context where the project takes place. From now on, we consider that the value of the project cannot be satisfied on the only basis of its efficiency, which means the concordance of the results with planned objectives. Consequently, this analysis relies on the assumption that problem building uses specific competencies usually unused compare to others steps during the process of project building. In this regard, an exploratory research was carried out on this subject with the objective of identifying skills during problem building, and more specifically identifying those competencies within a particular project, which are the international cooperation projects. To get there, we realized a table of reference of skills and competencies by using a case study that we did. That case study was based on small projects managed by international cooperation groups in Quebec. The use of both “instruction to the double” and research-intervention techniques allowed us to conclude to the following results: problem building needs specific skills of management of the information and mediation. The main skills of problem building are: the capacity of generating the availabilities of projects from primary and secondary data; the capacity of choosing and justifying these choices according to data analysis; the capacity of presenting clever written information, respectful of the ideas of the partners according to the language of project used by the public whom addresses the proposition; the capacity of using the comments of appraisers to improve a project and be capable of leading a project. vii The main contribution of this research lies in the proposition of a precious tool for the recruitment and the selection, the evaluation and the formation of the actors that conduct problem building.

Cette étude a été réalisée dans le cadre d’une maîtrise en Aménagement. Elle s’efforce à démontrer que l’étape d’un projet que l’on appelle problématisation, c’est-à-dire l’étape de construction des problèmes à être résolus, permet de s’assurer que les actions entreprises soient en cohérence et en pertinence avec le contexte du projet. Nous constatons désormais que nous ne pouvons plus nous contenter d’évaluer les projets sur la seule base de son efficience, c’est-à-dire la concordance de ses résultats avec les objectifs prévus. Dans ces circonstances, nous émettons l’hypothèse que la problématisation fait appel à des compétences particulières et généralement peu utilisées par rapport à d’autres étapes de la réalisation d’un projet. À cet égard, nous avons réalisé un travail de recherche exploratoire sur ce thème en ayant comme objectif d’obtenir une compréhension des compétences mobilisées lors de la problématisation en situation de projet en général et d’identifier plus spécifiquement ces compétences dans une situation de projet en particulier, celle des projets de coopération internationale. Pour y arriver, nous avons procédé à la construction d’un référentiel d’emploi et d’activités pour en déduire un référentiel de compétences de la problématisation. Pour ce faire, nous avons réalisé une étude de cas sur les projets de stage de coopération internationale. L’utilisation de la technique de l’« instruction au sosie » et d’une rechercheintervention nous ont permis de dégager les principaux résultats suivant: la problématisation fait appel à des compétences particulières de gestion de l’information et de médiation. Les compétences générales de problématisation que les responsables des stages dans les organisations de coopération internationale v doivent maîtriser sont : être capable de générer les disponibilités de projets à partir de données primaires et secondaires; être capable de faire des choix et de justifier ces choix en fonction de l’analyse des données; être capable de présenter des informations écrites claires, respectueuses des idées des partenaires en fonction du langage de projet utilisé par le public auquel s’adresse la proposition; être capable d’utiliser les commentaires des évaluateurs pour améliorer un projet et être capable de mener à terme un projet. La contribution principale de ce travail de recherche réside dans la proposition d’un outil précieux pour le recrutement et la sélection, l’évaluation du rendement, la formation et le perfectionnement des acteurs de la problématisation. / This study was realized within the framework of a master’s degree in Design and Complexity. It tries to demonstrate the importance of problem building in projects, allowing the action to be in coherence and in relevance with the context where the project takes place. From now on, we consider that the value of the project cannot be satisfied on the only basis of its efficiency, which means the concordance of the results with planned objectives. Consequently, this analysis relies on the assumption that problem building uses specific competencies usually unused compare to others steps during the process of project building. In this regard, an exploratory research was carried out on this subject with the objective of identifying skills during problem building, and more specifically identifying those competencies within a particular project, which are the international cooperation projects. To get there, we realized a table of reference of skills and competencies by using a case study that we did. That case study was based on small projects managed by international cooperation groups in Quebec. The use of both “instruction to the double” and research-intervention techniques allowed us to conclude to the following results: problem building needs specific skills of management of the information and mediation. The main skills of problem building are: the capacity of generating the availabilities of projects from primary and secondary data; the capacity of choosing and justifying these choices according to data analysis; the capacity of presenting clever written information, respectful of the ideas of the partners according to the language of project used by the public whom addresses the proposition; the capacity of using the comments of appraisers to improve a project and be capable of leading a project. vii The main contribution of this research lies in the proposition of a precious tool for the recruitment and the selection, the evaluation and the formation of the actors that conduct problem building.

Il est souvent arrivé que, par le passé, les scientifiques affirment l'existence d'objets inobservables dont ils rejettent aujourd'hui l'existence. Quelle leçon tirer de ce fait ? On est tenté d'en conclure que les méthodes qu'emploient les scientifiques pour connaître l'inobservable ne sont pas fiables, de sorte que cette connaissance serait située hors de leur portée. Cette thèse identifie et rejette deux présupposés qui conduisent à cette conclusion, à savoir que la méthode de l'hypothèse serait la seule manière de produire des connaissances des inobservables, et que cette méthode se déploierait de manière instantanée. Si, au contraire, les modalités concrètes de l'activité expérimentale et la dimension diachronique de la recherche théorique sont prises en compte, chacun de ces deux présupposés doit être rejeté comme abstrait. La connaissance des effondrements théoriques passés légitime alors la croyance en la vérité des théories actuelles. / History of science presents us with numerous cases in which scientists conclude that an unobservable entity previously posited as real actually does not exist. What the lesson is to be drawn from this fact ? One is tempted to draw the conclusion that the methods employed by scientists to produce knowledge of unobservable objects are not reliable: gaining this knowledge would be beyond their reach. This thesis identifies and rejects two presuppositions that lead to this conclusion: that the method of hypothesis is the only way to produce knowledge of unobservables and that it can be employed in an instantaneous manner. On the contrary, if the concrete modalities of the experimental activity and the diachronical dimension of theoretical research are taken into account, each of these two presuppositions appear to be too abstract and should be rejected. Knowledge of past theoretical collapses then legitimates the belief in the truth of current scientific theories.