Introduction: the scandal of reason and the paradox of judgement. -- Political judgement and the vocation of critical theory. -- Critical theory: political judgement as ideologiekritik. -- Philosophical liberalism: reasonable judgement. -- Philosophical liberalism and critical theory in dispute. -- Judgement unbound: Arendt. -- From critique pf power to a critical theory of judgement. -- The political epistemology of judgement. -- The critical consensus model. -- Judgement, criticism, innovation. -- Conclusion: letting go of ideal theory.