a wide range of theoretical and practical standpoints can form the basis of a critical approach in this sense. however, it is our view that Hegel and Marx are important both in providing a foundation for critical thought, including the thought of a number of writers who differ sharply from them on both particular and general questions, and in continuing to provide important insights and raise key questions. for these reasons we examine the thought of these two writers in detail in Chapters 2 and 3 of this book.