The Theoretical Theme Of "Domination Of Nature" In Horkheimer’s Thought And Its Influence

In this dissertation the reacher mainly studies the theoretical theme of "domination of nature" put forward by Max Horkheimer, a modern social philosopher from Germany, the founder of critical theory. An increasing number of studies have found that Horkheimer is not only the administer of the Institute of Social Research in Frankfurt, but also the guide and designer of Frankfurt School’s thoughts. The main reason why there are different comprehensions of Horkheimer is the lack of a internal thread of the development of critical theory. As the very core theme of Horkheimer’ thoughts,"domination of nature" provides the premise and foundation for critical theory and gives critique of society a significant place.In his discussion of "domination of nature", there are at least three phases:the preliminary critique of the bourgeois philosophy of history, from the domination of nature to the domination of society and the critique of reason and enlightenment. One of the core tasks of critical theory is to discuss why the relationship between specific individual and nature as a social object, leads to the disaster of civilization. The different phases of the theoretical theme of "domination of nature" in Horkheimer’ s thought reflect that critical theory continually responds to the demand of the historical development of society, exploring the solution to the contradictions between nature and history, individual and society, knowledge and power, from his critique of philosophy of history, social psychology and rational tradition, opening a new field of social critique. Nonetheless, critical theory gradually moves away from Marxist theory and method, maintains that the domination of nature is inherent in the Enlightenment tradition, therefore, people living in that tradition can not get rid of the destiny of alienation. The exploration of critical theory undoubtedly offers valuable experience and lesson for the research of contemporary capitalist.Theorist in Frankfurt School also have differences when confronted with Horkheimer’s idea of "domination of nature ". Both the agreement and disagreement extend the theoretical sphere of " domination of nature ", and promote a renewed understanding of the relationship of society and nature. The idea of " domination of nature " is a theoretical birthland of Frankfurt School. When we estimate the theoretical theme of "domination of nature " in Horkheimer’s thought, we can’t only refer to the judgment of Jiirgen Habermas, which is called "critique of instrumental reason", but more importantly refer to Horkheimer’s thought and logic. Human beings have different view of nature in different period, and change the nature actively at the same time.On those dual meaning, nature itself is also a historical factor that intermediates between practice and cognition. In contemporary time, when we come back to discuss the idea of " domination of nature ", we can hardly do without meticulous historical analysis, without the human being’s pursuit of freedom, that is, struggling to emerge from the limit of necessity restricted by "domination of nature" in human "prehistory". Horkheimer makes the idea of "domination of nature " a theoretical key to analyzing the change of forms of domination in capitalism, helping to understand capitalist relations of production which are constantly generative. The unity of rational critique and social critique need return to the critique of political economy, rather than abstract history-culture critique and normalized political philosophy.