A Study Of Enlightenment Thought In Dialectics Of Enlightenment

The ultimate goal of the spirit of enlightenment is to replace superstition with knowledge,myth with reason,and religion with science,so as to bring equality and freedom to the people under the rule of religion.However,the book dialectics of enlightenment is contrary to the popular view of traditional enlightenment.Horkheimer and Adorno put forward that enlightenment originated from myth,regarded enlightenment as a clue of human development history,and revealed the essence of myth and enlightenment.They made a profound reflection on the core "rationality" thought of the enlightenment.By criticizing "rationality",they pointed the spearhead at the biggest beneficiary of the enlightenment-the bourgeoisie,and revealed that industrial civilization made use of the enlightenment,alienated the enlightenment thought,and turned the enlightenment into a myth.Based on Horkheimer’s and Adorno’s Expositions on Enlightenment and myth in Dialectics of enlightenment,this study takes the relationship between myth and enlightenment as a clue,and through a comparative analysis of the reasons for the birth of myth and Enlightenment thought,demonstrates that the myth breeds enlightenment,Horkheimer and Adorno think that it is wrong for people to try to separate the relationship between enlightenment and myth in the enlightenment,which is a denial of Enlightenment itself.By analyzing how mythology became a tool for feudal monarchs and religious churches to control people’s thoughts from the first enlightenment of mankind,and comparing with the phenomenon of excessive expansion of instrumental rationality and the prevalence of commodity fetishism after the enlightenment,this paper discusses that the worry about enlightenment going to self destruction in Dialectics of enlightenment is correct,and enlightenment is becoming a new "myth" of capital controlling people.Finally,the value of Dialectics of enlightenment is reviewed,and the value of Dialectics of enlightenment in criticizing the enlightenment is affirmed;The identification of some thoughts of enlightenment in Dialectics of enlightenment is clarified;It reveals the limitations in the dialectics of enlightenment.What the book "Dialectics of enlightenment" really wants to convey is not a total negation of the enlightenment,nor an absolute criticism of the enlightenment.The real reason why Horkheimer and Adorno hold a critical attitude towards enlightenment is to awaken people in ignorance.This idea is of great significance to solve the problem of how to get rid of the new oppression and overthrow the rule of capitalism over people’s thoughts.Only when we have a correct understanding of the "rationality","science" and "technology" mentioned in the enlightenment,can we understand the true meaning of the enlightenment and realize the ideal of freedom for all and social civilization advocated by the enlightenment.