Horkheimer and Adorno on Enlightenment

Professor Ellie Anderson, co-host of Overthink philosophy podcast, explains why Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno think that enlightenment is not all it's cracked up to be, according to their seminal work The Dialectic of Enlightenment.

This video was created for Professor Anderson's Spring 2021 "Continental Thought" course at Pomona College.

For more from Ellie, check out Overthink podcast!

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @overthink_pod

[charliek]

This was one of the most succinct explanations of this work I have come across, you did an amazing job!

[akkaakka]

This was very enlightening. Thank you so much for making these philosophical concepts easy for us to understand.

[LGLevy]

in researching philosophy for school your videos have been very helpful trying to grasp some of these concepts. the source material is often very dense, making it even harder to understand, but this video explains it well and in a time efficient manner. thanks so much

[LeoLi-xo]

One of the most clear and concise summary of the key points of DoE I have watched/read.

[Ericwest]

I love what you're doing, Ellie. You have a wonderful way of distilling key concepts of philosophical Thinkers and making the exploration of the history of Ideas so compelling. I've never heard anyone distill the argument that Horkheimer and Adorno put forward about the implications of Enlightenment thinking - as you have done for us here. Bravo!

[rogermaioli]

This is hands-down the best summary view of the Dialectic of Enlightenment I've seen. I'll be teaching the section on Sade for an upcoming graduate seminar and will assign this video to help them understand how the section fits with the rest of the book.

[sonriks]

Love your lectures and teaching style!
Thank you!

[jolandalinsen]

I agree with the comments below, but wanted to join in; absolutely amazing and astonishing how well you explain these complex concepts! Thank you!

[monsieurbertillon]

It's very imprtant to emphasise that Adorno was not anti-Enlightenment. He wasn't an irrationalist and wasn't religious. Rather he wanted an enlightenment that was self-aware.

[brockbahler]

This is fantastic! Amidst all the boogeyman caricatures of Critical Theory in the media of late this is a breath of fresh air. I'm teaching an excerpt of Dialectic of Enlightenment in my Contemporary Jewish Thought class this fall and will recommend this video to my students in the supplemental materials!

[davidbraun]

This kind of video (start, voice, gesture) is perfect

[TommyMckeenan]

Ellie Anderson, you have enlightened me, your new fan :)

[StephenMBauer]

This talk is enlightening! I am listening to it multiple times.

[Nedwin]

Frankfurt school is always mesmerizing. Horkheimer, Adorno, and Habermas might be the ones that enlighten the contemporary philosophy. Anyway, I love Adorno on his thoughts about pop music and culture. Thanks for the review Prof. Ellie! Have a nice weekend.

[benzbara_]

I m from Indonesia. West borneo. Pontianak city. Great knowledge ❤

[understandingthenews]

Excellent summary, thank you for sharing. Great to have accessible stuff to recommend to students

[johnmckeown]

Thank you for this insightful explaination, now bearing in mind prof EA has spent years working on these topics to have such an understanding of them and there is no way by just listening to a few podcasts can someone like me who hasn't done that wrap their minds round this stuff but there is enough content I believe open the average mind to understanding the world we live in today because as far a I can see the world is just standing poised to do it all again!

[charliek]

3:39 “Isn't our mathematical conception of nature itself a projection of human ways of understanding things?”

Brilliant remark! Is there any more texts/thinkers I can read that explores this line of thinking?

[charbeldaher]

Amazing video, appreciate your effort

[philosophicalneo]

As I encounter these topics in ongoing studies, I often refer to my own systematic approach to modernity and enlightenment from, now, a year ago.

Please do consider my method as presented in "building a proper disposition"

Cheers and Merry Christmas