Kritiken

Kritiken is a German noun meaning critical evaluations, judgments, or commentary about something. The plural Kritiken is used for multiple evaluations or reviews. The term derives from the Greek kritikos, meaning able to judge, and entered German through Latin as Kritik.

In everyday language, Kritiken denote assessments of actions, arguments, performances, or works, and they can be positive, negative, or mixed. In philosophy, Kritik refers to systematic examination of concepts, arguments, or the limits of knowledge and reason; famous works in this vein include the Kritiken by Immanuel Kant, such as Kritik der reinen Vernunft and Kritik der praktischen Vernunft, though those titles are typically cited in singular form. The plural Kritiken is used when referring to multiple such critical works or studies.

In arts and media, Kritiken are reviews published in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms. They summarize a work, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and can influence how audiences receive it. Kritiken vary in tone and approach, ranging from scholarly analysis to journalistic critique, reflecting the critic’s perspective, standards, and context.

The term is widely used across German-speaking regions and in translations of media coverage. Related terms include Kritik (singular), Kritiker (critic), and Kritikfähigkeit (critical thinking). Kritiken appears in many compound forms, such as Filmkritiken, Literaturkritiken, and Kunstkritiken, reflecting the broad application of critical appraisal across different domains.