Reason,Enlightenment And Culture

Horkheimer’s critical theory can be divided into three key points: reason,enlightenment and culture.On critique of reason,Horkheimer believes that the western society with a long tradition of rationalism,after a long period of development,is increasingly showing the characteristics of instrumental reason.The prevalence of instrumental reason,not only results in the devaluation of human value,but also leads to the rule of totalitarianism.On critique of enlightenment,according to Horkheimer’s opinion,enlightenment and myth are mutually reversal.Myth is enlightenment,and enlightenment regresses into myth.Enlightenment did not bring civilization to human beings,on the contrary,it plunged them into a deep barbarism.In the world after enlightenment,dissimilation happened between humans and nature and between human beings themselves.On critique of culture,Horkheimer empirically analyzed the cultural industry.According to his opinion,cultural industry colludes with ideology and eventually becomes a vassal of totalitarianism.The prevalence of cultural industry not only leads to the loss of cultural enlightenment function,but also leads to the deprivation of individual freedom.There are close internal relationship among the critique of reason,enlightenment and culture on Hokheimer’s critical theory.This internal relationship is reflected in both content and logic.In terms of content,the critique of reason,enlightenment and culture are all important part of Horkheimer’s critical theory.All of them reflect Horkheimer’s profound reflection and criticism on the late capitalist society.In terms of logic,from the critique of reason to enlightenment and then to culture reflects the process from abstract to concrete of Horkheimer’s critical theory.Horkheimer’s critical theory has both great theoretical value and certain limitations.The theoretical value of Horkheimer’s critical theory is that it mainly includes the inheritance and deepening of the critical spirit of Marxism,and it lays a solid theoretical foundation for the establishment and subsequent development of the Frankfurt School.The main limitation of Horkheimer’s critical theory is that it’s very pessimistic,and to some extent,it tends to far away from orthodox Marxism.