Premium Essay

Horkheimer's Dialectics Of Enlightenment

Submitted By
Words 442
Pages 2
This paper analyzes the opening argument of Dialectics of Enlightenment. According to Horkheimer and Adorno enlightenment is the “demystification (dissolution of myth) of the world”, the replacement of a pre-rational worldview by a more rational through criticism. Moreover, they state, that enlightenment levered itself out, which led to self-destruction. This through its totalitarian character because nothing changed in the formula of ruling people.
In comparison myth stands for imagination, tradition and superstition. It seems that the enlightened world-view is superior over the mythical, because of the combination of enlightenment with the heritage of Platon and Aristoteles. The belief that superstition was equal with truth is canceled and replaced by the metaphysics. No more influence of nature through magic rituals and fear. As …show more content…
Moreover, in their opinion technology was not invented to improve humanity but it served only to develop new methods, exploitation and enslavement (capital). Knowledge is the power of human mind over a disenchanted nature. Humanity did not change through the newest inventions – never! Technology innovations are not systematic achievements of mankind, rather they are incidental products of humanity to develop the instruments of oppression. Consequently, there is no difference between the 30-year war and the use of artillery then and the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima through diving bombers. The compass that led the Spanish to explore America is changed by the remote control for atomic strikes of the different president-rulers. This shows, how humanity did not change. Furthermore, there are still wars, only their instruments have been modernized. Hence, I agree with the authors of the paper. In my opinion humanity did not change, and the age of modernization and many more technical innovations makes it increasingly

Similar Documents

Free Essay

The Culture Industry at Work

...by the famous work of Marx and Weber, critical theorists Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer coined the culture industry in 1944 (During). This name was agreed upon after much debate, as they considered naming their work “mass culture” but decided it incorrectly assumed culture arises spontaneously from the people (de Peuter). The pair worked out of The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory where they studied the effects of culture in capitalist societies, summing up their concerns into an effective piece of literature entitled “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception” (de Peuter). Although seen in a negative light by Adorno and Horkheimer, it is crucial to consider its positive aspects as well. The rise of the culture industry is seen as a positive event for media theorists such as Walter Benjamin because it provides the ability to reproduce art on a mass scale (Laughey 38). This paper will outline Adorno and Horkheimer’s pessimistic view of the culture industry, along with the theory’s limitations and its relevance in today’s society. More specifically, it will discuss three defining characteristics of the culture industry: the ability to mass-produce, the monopolistic market and technological advancements. Adorno and Horkheimer believe the culture industry is comparable to the entertainment industry with respect to its mass production of commodities such as film and music (Laughey 123). Cultural events, including art, are being transformed into commodities, otherwise...

Words: 2054 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Globalisation

...Critical Theories of Globalization Chamsy el-Ojeili and Patrick Hayden Critical Theories of Globalization Also by Chamsy el-Ojeili CONFRONTING GLOBALIZATION: Humanity, Justice and the Renewal of Politics FROM LEFT COMMUNISM TO POSTMODERNISM: Reconsidering Emancipatory Discourse Also by Patrick Hayden AMERICA’S WAR ON TERROR CONFRONTING GLOBALIZATION: Humanity, Justice and the Renewal of Politics COSMOPOLITAN GLOBAL POLITICS JOHN RAWLS: Towards a Just World Order THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN RIGHTS Critical Theories of Globalization Chamsy el-Ojeili Department of Sociology, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Patrick Hayden School of International Relations, University of St Andrews, UK © Patrick Hayden and Chamsy el-Ojeili 2006 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents...

Words: 100030 - Pages: 401

Premium Essay

Ir Theories

...Theories of International Relations Third edition Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Donnelly, Matthew Paterson, Christian Reus-Smit and Jacqui True Theories of International Relations This page intentionally left blank Theories of International Relations Third edition Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Donnelly, Matthew Paterson, Christian Reus-Smit and Jacqui True Material from 1st edition © Deakin University 1995, 1996 Chapter 1 © Scott Burchill 2001, Scott Burchill and Andrew Linklater 2005 Chapter 2 © Jack Donnelly 2005 Chapter 3 © Scott Burchill, Chapters 4 and 5 © Andrew Linklater, Chapters 6 and 7 © Richard Devetak, Chapter 8 © Christian Reus-Smit, Chapter 9 © Jacqui True, Chapter 10 © Matthew Paterson 2001, 2005 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright...

Words: 132890 - Pages: 532