Unfinished Revolution: the political philosophy of the Frankfurt School

Abstract

The article is devoted to analysis of political philosophy of T.-W. Adorno and other representatives of the Frankfurt School. They exposed the power as ideology, which takes various forms, uses resources philosophy, mythology and art. Adorno’s negative dialectics has developed a project on the basis of which it is possible to the emancipation of people covered by the powerful propaganda machines of today. Thematic horizon in the context that was developing his negative dialectic, are elements of Jewish messianism and Protestantism Luthers, dialectic Hegels, alienation theory Marx’s, immoralizm Nietzsche. For critics of the ideology of modernism the representatives of the Frankfurt School have used resources of the philosophical dialectic. They proposed a new form of protest, which saw the promotions representatives of the cultural avantgarde. In their view, class struggle, and the change of life forms is the main strategy of the cultural revolution. The merit of T. Adorno, M. Horkhaimer and G. Marcuse is a critical analysis of the new forms of governance media culture. “Political esthetics” complements the negative dialectic. In addition to criticism of the values of bourgeois society for the liberation of the people, it is proposed to use the possibilities of avantgarde art, especially new music, according to Adorno, turns consumers into accomplices. If light music distracts and entertains, new music is fosters critical reflection sensuality and, thus, exempt from installation on pleasure. Comparing projects of Frankfurt School with modern social and cultural processes, it must be said that they have not been translated. Connection of art, philosophy, and life was not as desired. At the Foundation of modern mass society remains not critical reflection, and consumption and entertainment.

Keywords:

power, critique of ideology, Marxism, cultural revolution, political aesthetics