0 {IWENTIETH-CENTURY QUESTIONS tan ymolgy wt aleay crn inLaher an Lenin Ka, wes, dost ‘Pen to tak the word i the bee of lp indepen” 1 Jatin GonlchFe,sRecamaton a he Fedo Though fom Prin af Europe” (wala above, pp. 128-130). te War Re Dram (Cre, 188, chap 8, ave argued against 2 simian a ans moral pln eke ats ee Coo ‘embody onder: aonomy i # contin of pene, not rmethng acu be ‘Sol equad of gets Heres the uns of Ran ely prenng ‘he conap ofan mara acon fe Mem tat wi aes teal pe ‘nen thereby nani ce at fs ton wo. Kine “Wn Ovematon w Taig? (785 fal foto: The xine ay il for socal ne elsment" See Omen Oc ae Sono point i er areReaon endl Kastan ae Conf mage, 1905) 9 SC Ral Lamha Reis nay aon, 2. Sin Vebewsrng eorer Eischien vrcigich 8 le Ding, die ik une ses werbunden sind" Chan Gohl Sma, Cat wu Gog nl hr ‘SCL H's Rove, 987) 100 "Thomas Habber, Emad cap paint paragraph To. Tune wt ofthe Fo Haman we "Gat Gana Hempel "Toe Futon of General Le in sry) in Apu of Sona Pn en Vok 1965, 32 “ft Poca Scoch, Henn iT Honan (esi, Amr, 1at9, ane} Holingde Cambie, 188) 12 Burch de Spry, com Tt P1670, cap. 16 mas ater, Lauer (GS) ep toa ad chap 15: Vo, Ea Pate aa omc o et ms 1750 sn Pipi te (169 ater bean oton oe fot Mo. Did Hue, A Tai f aman Nate (1739), Bk 13 TP Riche pray thir edctne ae, hugh wise relating epic sy nihrmen te sng a oe a a la Mo ‘are edocs the gh pcos ot merlin he iment ct ThA Siar conepon of enlghtennent tact in G.W-F Hegel ea ment. Pasig of St Phitetag Cs, 107), a, A les (Ox fey riya 40-97, Ta immune Rar, Ca of Jug (ih dr Ugh, 790 ane J ear ew Yor, 151, 9 hn od Neptie, wld gach Aclrang sumac” 21. Hobos, Latin, hap 1 oe paragh 22 Toe pra e Novalis i Ol Ey (1799, Sift I 1 Seman Sage, 190), 315 Nhat Hostine nd Phedor W. Adorno, Dal dr rng (Amt dam 14 18 Db ial, pyc, i etn 35, Ps ecommcndao ote dl, Pa 418 Le Lain). Reason Against Itsel Some Remarks on Enlightenment Mas Horner ‘The collapse of a large part ofthe intellectual foundation of our cviiea- tion i toa certain extent the result of technical and scentife progeet. Yet this progres isl? an outcome of dhe Aight forthe principles which ace tow in jeopady, for instance, dove ofthe Hava! and his happiness Progress has a tendency to dertoy the very ideas ti suppored to fealize and unfold. Endangered by the proces of technical cvieattn isthe ability of independent thinking all. Reston today seeme to sufler fom s kind of disease. Tis is ue inthe lie of the individual as well ar of society. The india pays for the te Imendous achievements of moder indy, for bi increased tecnica Sil and acces to goods and services, with a deepening impotence again the oncenrated power of the society which he ts suppose to eonteol. He i ‘ver engaged in modeling his whole existence, downto the minutes impulse, alter prefabricated patens of behavior and cling ‘These development in the individual ate the by-products of develop- ‘ments indus society. By the application of the tndastriat division of labor to the rea of the spirit, siemtiie reason has been separated from religious truth. Science, a2 well-defined profeion, sharply demarcated from philosophy, har almost inqsahed is prerogative to tale the most decisive problems of human existence. k may cll to probe occasionally it the funtonal significance of value, but thei discovery expresion, oF ‘The ed si i The WA de ar ses elf nl jut S of een td a ep eee ae Ua kOe Uns Pad Pompe Fagen fay Ora eee Tn rman a tp, ‘Du 2194 Sia pms © Ta Gel io (G905 Fink Tey Cm Papa Freee wu eid st Da Set Saag te) 389200 ‘TWENTIETH-GENTORY QUESTIONS {utifcation rests with eter branches af cle Ic abandons the dfn of human sn to religion, the struggle for sch ims to pies, nd her discnnaion tothe maw media of communication. Wh rege tothe bacprine of itelectal seit out scey, sleet Best the riper, the areiec being anonymous Ite scholar ae hit woice agin the us o which his ings ace put, De pea a cine, tocar cent: No ony mit wep of hom pec one fre o ese sir probles, bu the ght of the st separation a Science om anyother intelectual endeavor he can baie athe en tut, art implied in hk revere, might als apy tote slimate decisions of society orth individual Scene impart with regard to star shoud be. Tx devoted to menos, whatever end tay be ered Rel Bion, in cur, bolted on he rection, earaleed nd wel protested Within the modern word of indy. Truc, fll, together with othe lures important fncions of tcl conta. Yer, withthe del ranceof Faith rom the deadly srl with secular Reason, och of ke ‘rig sshance seme hve ded vay: Reign’ abt gin ie treme on the polities) scene has alton! supereded he Ag agua oe doubts thin man’ conscience. ‘The emphasis om se whesomence, 2 ie concibulion to civilization rather than on the truth of i pec doc tines Religion ie concerned with man’s goals an denny, sence with truth alone. this vision between the search for knowledge, om he one and, and che valuation of moon onthe eter, which henten to destoy all meaning The decay of independent thought in the individual and the dichotomy between scented religion tt in sciety are only «wo symptom of the sme dilemma characterising ou ea. Philosophy, savor nonynont ‘with Reavooy should at leat be able to show how the catastrophe came howe Arvecnial ciation hat emerged trom precy that undaunted Ramon wh now i ligating, Reason mont eco the iory of ite vieotudesty, ai were, to Teolet songs and Undeatand ts ‘un inherent selédestactive tends mechan, or all inquiry and [iTieaning tbat secllecon, The everubeiming achievement of Rew fea thr domination of nature, bok pha abd prychologsea, have rendered i Torgefl of the sciicee by wit thee achievements were fined, Therefore tAdsy’s mentality and wisdom, penetrating a they ae, include ae element of blindness fanatic,” Remon’ ability to render an account of ft transformation fro the power by which the meaning of SL things perceived, tom nee instrament oalepreeration Condition of recovery. ‘One specie developmen in she history of pilowphy il exempt the science tendeny of Reason. The eighteenth sentry im France hat ‘een eed he cena Caighenset. The stl of tht to which shi REASON AGAINST U7SE4F sor term refers chads some of the grates names of fman history. The movement was not limited to 2 small elite but had brosd base in the French middle clas. However, it was ia the philosophical works ofthe ng piss cha the ie of enlightenment rectived its clasteal formulation We might characterize this movement by two quotations from Volaie Oh, philotopher,” he exclaims, "the experiences of physics wel beer, profestions and industry, there you have the tue pileopiy The second tation, taken fro the sume work, "Superson ets the whole wo ‘in fames; philosophy extinguishes thems." The movement of Ealighten- nent 1 pica of Western civzaion, expats the belt that the Deo, ress of science wil fall do away with idolatry. Indeed, there are ood reasons for this prediction ‘Men have always been haunted by innumerable fers In pretiterate eu luce, the world was conceived in terme of ev lores, subject to contd {hrough proptitory acts and magic The proces ef emanepaton from this conception of de universe ie the predominant motive inthe batory of ‘numa culture, ach conquest of sence hat care! the attack deep ito {he realm of fear. Science gives to man the power over that whic earlier seemed completely under the contrel of uncanny forrs ‘The awe of taare 48 an overwhelming unpredictable Being hse been vepaced by confidence in abstract formulae ‘Thos nature changes its aspects. In the preaimistic age, nature bore the ‘aspect of the terble overeelming ent Mana then i saumed te mask of many spirits and gods who were charactrisically vague and unde ale. Inthe epi poems of humanity such o those of Homer, gods took oo ‘lear contours, im clsical philosophy asim tat of Plato the gods were ‘waneformed nia eleral concepts and ess, oF a8 by Empedoctes into the element of all things. Eventually, mythology, atthe adequate expression of ‘man's relationship with nature, vanished and mechanics and physis tok its place. Nature los every vestige of vital independent exatence, al value of ‘sown It became dead matter ~a heap of things. Nevertheless, mythology bas survived in various spheres of thought and behavior drought the centuries Idolatry presen in any abolute devor ion ta finite eno, whatever it may be: & human being oa land nature ‘or wadition, Thus in romantic lovey the Beloved indivi! i dele fe and death depend om the for oF distor recived from the adored. The reverence direted toward one's anceutore ad the creving for mamortlity ‘xemplify mythological reactions. In the sbence of any residue of mytho. om; piety toward the dead or any rte becomes an empty mutnmery whe the living enact for eachother. The reverence manifests am atieaze which mo longer exits. As far asthe French Enlightenment ie concerned, tied to attack mythle 087 in all ts forms, even when incorporated In the most powerfal iatsee TWENTIETH.CENTURY QUESTIONS. ‘ion of she day: However, there were certain points at which they witingy or unvitingly compromived, Among these were the body of principles believed etentilto the fanctioning ofthe commonwealth, ethical and sometimes religious truths There basic moral laws, according o the great tnlightoners, were engraved on the mind of man. Ae Voltaire sai, 1k proven hat tere alone its nw cf iene wich precede al ot ttn ae hr Gd haw gen ii a {inh price so persrering tha Hb despite te pons which tpn who want to detoy tough syperstion ‘This principe of Reston expressed el nthe semimens of juice and iy, which were, acording to Vols; the bai of tote. "Yaltaire i not aware ofthe inconsitency between thi octine and hit exher pomp eacings One does not wibimpuniey embrace Lack’ theory af knowledge ad a the same esd with Leis when comes to eal ath: It impee fo atch for lug the ave fo td demons and yet rman reverence forthe categories and prs Shiver oralny. Th, however, x preely the path which the pil sophia under of modem society, incdng Lack hmsl, treo (allow, Cen re Soames tothe inet af elghened thought ie Scientite Reson, which uproted the West of Plato to ess ie than Plato undefined Home's poy, ot a harmony eh che docine of native heat or any naaral nw or prniple demanding ropes an Seal uh ‘Acotdng to modern hiking, genera concept may grein theres, providing hey belp uo prt an nunc te our of event, Tait ow these concepts partake of truth sich thing a all exits. Science doesnot kom any other mening of ths word. Th ali the vedi of ‘modern “phlcnphy of lence" we ae permite to peak roughly and ‘ident pretending that precon which we adic athe eelont, {this philosophy. The fact that so many tinker of the lat two oF thee Centre have edt econ scenic thought with ome Kindo pio ‘Sphical eis and withthe justo of certain scl eategois should tot deceive us abou'the divergence f ther two diferent endeavor. Pi Issophys in terme of Volare defitons nately a the expences pyc well oiered, professions and Industry” and philosophy in the doctine of “nacral law or ny concept eh anton” tate ten nn only be corbied rca The herent endeney of te frat conepion of philosophy et tack and destroy the second as Beng tome kindof mybalgy, known teday ns metaphysics. REASON AGAINST ITSELF sex Since the stceth and seventeenth centuries metaphysics has ben the attempt of representuve thinkers to ese fom Rese alee ie ere dys had cae rom revatio: the meaning and eetial mar of Renn lie. They tried fo imtegeate theory and peace sought men oe ne Jectca night. The more phlsopieal fara ner oe a ‘omialsic a empiric epistemology, the mare appasen beeen ae ‘eaknes ofthe cast fom the fist to he scond foneat of los By fom the eptenlgilpart othe repens yc tue He Conccp of sce. A fa a Relyion was concerned, the Epa af lghenment ade a tue with i The med fr Fath ns ter pens Indus society put elgon and since i wife: ates rom Sing cane Metapbves however, during this esroeeect of the ofc, ws thrown inte te coe ms Thi proceat ws ot jo inlet. What we have oie 5 fa Inerely one spt ofthe economic and socal development oth er he teaming of soil Iie forthe rbless seagge Ter power one hace fd snan. Inti ahion we may deseribe humanity's wanes inte he époch of indsiasm and mass alter The consequences eas hassy he ‘exaggerated By no means doe ind progcs as expres eng (sal enlightenment ale only mch concep man, sal hetomn, hates and usin, which have dre impact on moral and pracel po tems le alo cancers the mening ofthe bac concep of ai slosh, Primary the notions of conepe den, jgment sn teases All ee ‘care sill wed in every langage as well solay work seth o nt thon who ase them belong cote “pilnopy of seen school. But there is no doctrine wich would be inne wath the modern ler centuries were never given the opportunity to develop so much a the radiments of individuality are now being transformed into kinds of in lature economic subjects, They develop an eo whose conscious Material Imcerests, despite all the information thet upon does not extend beyond it own lifespan. As long a prosperity laste tn peace anion they ean Aepend on thers. The same goes for thee children. On the ether hand, {he independent entrepreneur i supplated bythe director or manager, He acts on objectivieed economic and politialimerests and must confor 0 Powerful groups and collectives. Thus the strata of the ta tia at Both poles of society becomes more and more alike. Today the trend i ‘oward inereasing adjustment and conformity, toward belng 4 good mem ‘oer of ssoiations, corporations, won, aid teams, As society astumes many ofthe coordinating uections which had been encrcacd with so much ‘rieson within the human being, man reems more and mote able to get, long with a shrunken ego and to do withost that highty developed ener lite which once defined the individual. Thats why the concep of the indie vidual ite hat become a romanticism. Despite offal ideology it seems to Yel tthe socal tends reflected by modern ealightenmet ‘One might ask whether ont thesis of the selfliquidaton of reason in recent Wester history not one-sided, Are there not aay philosophical an other public current which ae i contradiction to the general devel- ‘opment to which we refered? Although there are natutlly ame important fountertendencien, stteimping to beer the collapsing categories, ment of the philosophical and religious: attempts at artic sepiation of old ‘metaphysical doctrines contribu, agaist thelr wl © the pragmtizaion tnd disoluon of the concepts they hope to revi. The direct of mae ‘omtact with any supposed etetnal entities or principles, whether they be= long toa pagan or an orthodox philosophy, has beeh dcupted by techno logical development. Through being used forthe purpove of modern mass manipulation the antiquated dogmas lose, a it were, the lst spark of gore tine lie. There ino intellectual way back, The mote scone the mses feel thatthe concept which are to be reviled have no teal bans Ia ‘day's social reality, the more ean they be Ted ane theae concepts eal by mass hypnosis and, once accepted, che more will they adhere to ett ‘ith fanaticism and not wit reason, Myhologies which atone time rete> sented the level of development reached by humanity ate now left behind366 ‘TWENTIETHECENTURY QUESTIONS bythe social proces. Vet these same mythologies ate often sed by political factions which want to fur back the eoure of bistory. I these faction are vetorious the mses mutt embrace their respective Wdeologies despite thet Incongruence with man’s experience and sil in his induseal existence. The masses mat force themariver into believing ther Truth is thus Ye= placed by purpote and naive faith by boisterous allegiance. This is what Sse have witnessed so often In hiory and recently in Germany and other Fast states, ‘The situation is similar when, instead of antiquated philosophies, new symthetie beliefs are to be itil i the public mind. AS long as they ae not enforced hy the tate they play the role of "mind cures” and fashions. However, a part of the manipulating machinery of any authoritarian gov~ ‘emment, they become commands, even more dehumanizing than those Fequting abject outward behavior, for they dapomers man of his ova Conscience and make of him a mere agent of modern teil trends. Back ‘change in these synhete belief, az decreed by the small group in power, however trifling i conten, accompanied by purge, by the deveractisn of human beings, inellectal psentaites, and works of ar ‘But if nether the revival of old nor the invention of new mythologies ‘an check the couse of Enlightenment, are we not thrown ito a pesimistc titede, a state of despair and mili? The answer t thi crtal objec tim i very simple but 20 seldom heard nowadays thatthe Sartrean version fof existentilinm appear be quite revolutionary because He har seme this atinde. The absence of a predetermine way out x certainly no arr ‘ment against line of thought. The zesluin to fellow the intrinsic loge of a subjec regardless of the comforting oF dicomforting outcome i the rime condition of trve theoretic! thinking” As far as ur situation toy i Concerned, there seems to be kind of mortgage on any thinking, cf imposed obligation to artve at cherfl conclaion, The compulsive effort to meet tht obligation is one of the reasons why @ pouitive concuson it imposible. To free Reaon from the fear of being calle ite might be fone ofthe steps in itr recovery. "This secret fear might be atthe bottom of ‘Volsire'sintlity to recognize the antagonism between the two concep of philosophy, an inabilty contrary tothe dea of Ealighteament elf One ‘might define the sli-detuctve tendency of Reason in its awn conceptual {aim asthe posivsie disoution of metaphyseal concepts up tothe cot cept of Reason ieee The philosophical ask then is to insist on carying the {intellectual effort up tothe fll realization of the contradiction, resting fon this disoluion, between the various branches ofelture and betwern caltre and socal realy, rather than to atempt to patch up the rack in the edifice of our civilization by any falsely optimise or harmonistic doce twine, Far from engaging in romanticim, a have ao many eminent ete of Enlightenment, we should encourage Ealightenmen to move forward even in the face ofits most paradoxical contequences. Otherwise the intellect decay of city’s most cherished ideale will take ple confusely in the lndercurcents of the public mind. The couse of history will be hal ex Perience as inescapable fate. This experience wil provide 4 new and dan ‘gesous myth to lurk beind the external assurances offi ieology. The hope of Reason isin the emancipation from its wn fear of despa ne ea iene sosiaad detec ene ale ee tt a 1877-1685), 20-599. we Neue