How to Read Adorno and Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment (How to Read Theory)

Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment is a formative text in the canon of critical theory, and a classic of twentieth-century thought. Nick Lawrence's excellent guide aids students in their study of this central work. We now take for granted that the so-called "enlightenment" is a complicated and contested idea, yet Adorno and Horkheimer were among the first to argue that rational and progressive discourse - premised on the goal of controlling nature and liberating humanity from fear - can carry within it the seeds of regression. This book introduces students to the context within which Dialectic of Enlightenment was written, giving special attention to the intellectual debates surrounding its composition. Key concepts from the text - such as "enlightenment," "myth," and "the domination of nature" - are described and contextualized. This book is an invaluable tool for students and lecturers who need to engage with this key text.