In the following essay I will first outline Marx and Engels account of the necessary trajectory of capitalism towards the global proletariat class. Then outline Marcuse’s account of the emancipatory struggle having been rendered obsolete by a new technological rationality. Following this, I will briefly agree with Marcuse that we are enframed within the technological rationality however it does not follow that history will not develop into some other form of subjectivity. Lastly, I will argue against both Marx and Marcuse on their very method of analysis which involves reducing the subject wholly to material conditions alone, and briefly sketch out what is meant by this.
Marx
Marx and Engels begin by claiming that “the history of all hitherto …show more content…
He argues the enlightenment focused the attention on the individual. A person is exempt from all external authority which creates space to pursue life based on free thinking. Critical rationality was the mark of the enlightenment. This emphasis on rationality and individuality were the notions that shaped the enlightenment subject breaking away from ecclesiastical, monarchical, and aristocratic institutions that were previously dominant. This rational subjectivity changed with the development of industrial capitalism, which changed the whole of social relations bringing with it the promise of new technical advances to help build a better and more efficient life. However, on the flip side this comes with its own problems, for Marcus a separation between the individual and society arose, society no longer facilitated individuality. This was due to the fact that capital was held above anything else. Production of commodities, plus the focus on efficiency, simplifying and organizing, shows that rationality has changed into technological rationality. In technological rationality, reason starts becoming stagnant, it 's the beginning of the death of critical rationality. People are treated as mere cogs in a larger machine as it were, the dominance of machines and standardization reduces one to a series of robotic, external functions. Due to the fact that everything functions in a rational and efficient manner any criticism of this mode is taken as irrational. One ought to adjust to the technological mode of production. In being submerged into technological rationality one gives up one 's private volition and spontaneity, which were essential to the prior critical rationality. Passivity and fitting in are their replacements, that is submitting to the "dictates of the apparatus." (Marcuse, pg.141) For Marcuse rationality is equated with
Marx
Marx and Engels begin by claiming that “the history of all hitherto …show more content…
He argues the enlightenment focused the attention on the individual. A person is exempt from all external authority which creates space to pursue life based on free thinking. Critical rationality was the mark of the enlightenment. This emphasis on rationality and individuality were the notions that shaped the enlightenment subject breaking away from ecclesiastical, monarchical, and aristocratic institutions that were previously dominant. This rational subjectivity changed with the development of industrial capitalism, which changed the whole of social relations bringing with it the promise of new technical advances to help build a better and more efficient life. However, on the flip side this comes with its own problems, for Marcus a separation between the individual and society arose, society no longer facilitated individuality. This was due to the fact that capital was held above anything else. Production of commodities, plus the focus on efficiency, simplifying and organizing, shows that rationality has changed into technological rationality. In technological rationality, reason starts becoming stagnant, it 's the beginning of the death of critical rationality. People are treated as mere cogs in a larger machine as it were, the dominance of machines and standardization reduces one to a series of robotic, external functions. Due to the fact that everything functions in a rational and efficient manner any criticism of this mode is taken as irrational. One ought to adjust to the technological mode of production. In being submerged into technological rationality one gives up one 's private volition and spontaneity, which were essential to the prior critical rationality. Passivity and fitting in are their replacements, that is submitting to the "dictates of the apparatus." (Marcuse, pg.141) For Marcuse rationality is equated with