M. Horkheimer/T.W. Adorno: Dialectic of Enlightenment
| Title | Χορκχάιμερ-Αντόρνο: Διαλεκτική του διαφωτισμού / M. Horkheimer/T.W. Adorno: Dialectic of Enlightenment |
| Code | Φ488 |
| Faculty | Philosophy |
| School | Philosophy and Education |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Coordinator | Konstantinos Kavoulakos |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600022865 |
Programme of Study: UPS School of Philosophy and Education (2011-today)
Registered students: 1
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Elective Courses | Winter/Spring | - | 6 |
| Philosophy | Compulsory courses beloging to the selected specialisation | Winter/Spring | - | 6 |
| Academic Year | 2024 – 2025 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors | |
| Class ID | 600273215
|
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600273215
- eLearning (Moodle): https://elearning.auth.gr/course/view.php?id=20073
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
- English (Examination)
- German (Examination)
Learning Outcomes
- have studied part of the work “Dialectic of Enlightenment” in depth.
- have understood the connections with other works of the same period, as well as with the historical circumstances of the period.
- have reflected on the relationship between nature and culture in its dynamic development.
- be able to study further bibliography on the subject.
General Competences
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Generate new research ideas
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Respect natural environment
- Demonstrate social, professional and ethical commitment and sensitivity to gender issues
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
Τhe great atrocities of the 20th century, which culminated in the Nazi extermination camps and the mass destruction of World War ΙΙ, were they merely a deviation from the normal course of civilization, which normally implies progress towards a rational society? One of the most compelling theories that attempted to answer this question is provided by Max Horkheimer and T. Adorno in Dialectic of Enlightenment (1944). According to the book's basic position, the development of the cultural process is inextricably linked to a one-sided “instrumental rationalization” and, consequently, to the constant expansion of domination over nature and men. From this perspective, Stalinist or National Socialist barbarism and the contemporary “mass culture” of the so-called “Western democracies” are but two sides of the same trend toward a completely controlled, totalitarian society. History appears to be subject to a “dialectic” that does not lead to the liberation of man but to increased oppression. The critical reading and analysis of the text will aim to familiarize readers with its analyses and identify its possible weaknesses.
Keywords
Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Dialectic of Englightment, instrumental Reason, domination of nature
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Slide presentations
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.6 | |||
| Reading Assigment | 108 | 4.3 | |||
| Exams | 3 | 0.1 | |||
| Total | 150 | 6 |
Student Assessment
Description
Three hours examination with questions chosen by the students
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
1) Μ. Χορκχάιμερ, Τ.Β. Αντόρνο, Διαλεκτική του διαφωτισμού, Νήσος: Αθήνα 1996.
2) Μ. Jay, Η διαλεκτική φαντασία: Μια ιστορία της Σχολής της Φρανκφούρτης και του Ινστιτούτου Κοινωνικής Έρευνας 1923-1950, Αλεξάνδρεια: Αθήνα 2009.
Last Update
07-10-2025
