Verified Document

Ideology And Utopia Central Concept Term Paper

" He makes the important statement that in the age that has produces barbaric events such as Auschwitz, cultural activities such as the writing of poetry are no longer possible. By this he implies that the age that produces barbaric events can no longer act as if their cultural products or creations are exempt from the responsibility for these events. Therefore, to assume that one can continue to write poetry and engage in other cultural activities is "impossible." If we unpack these views, we find that what Adorno is referring to is the underling way of thought or the submerged ideologies that are not "visible" but which tend to shape, motivate and determine the cultural output. In other words, Adorno in this article draws our attention to the underlying "forces" that exist in Western culture that allowed horrendous events like Auschwitz to occur. He is suggesting that there is a deep ideological substratum that permeates Western culture that must be revealed or deconstructed before we can engage in meaningful cultural activities.

The article also refers to the way in which these forces are largely invisible in Western society and are therefore not often seen or understood on a conscious level. This refers to the idea of reality as a construct created by the dialectics and discourse in society.

Conversely and importantly, this also means that Western culture has the ability to reveal this underlying context and to eradiate those elements that have been responsible for the increasing barbarism in Western culture. Therefore, Adorno is of the view that we have the power to alter Western culture from within; and that the culture of Western society should be changed or altered by the revealing and reevaluating of the context of the past.

Another important aspect is that Adorno identifies this underlying force in Western culture with the movement within western society towards the increasing commodification of all things into products. In this way people lose there human identity and are dealt with as products and mere elements of commercial value.

4. Questions

1. Is a theory of ideology necessary to explain social behavior?

I believe that a theory of ideology is extremely important means...

As many studies have shown, ideology functions in society as an intricate and determining facet of the way that that society perceives and comprehends reality. Many actions and values are motivated by certain ideologies. One need only consider the ideology of capitalism and the ethics involved in this ideology to see the significance of a study of this ideology in understanding the Western world.
2. If sociology is the study of social action, and social action is behavior to which actors give meaning and meanings are embedded in discourse, does this mean the task of sociology is the study of discourses?

In one sense, the above statement is correct. The study of discourse within society and the various ideals and ideologies that affect that society, are extremely important in understanding the reason why people act in society in certain ways. However, on the other hand, one cannot limit the study of society to the study of discourse; there are many other structural and subjective areas that should also be considered.

3. What is meant by the "sociology of knowledge"?

In essence, the sociology of Knowledge refers to a study of the way that social knowledge is created, produced and maintained in a given society; as well as the study of the concomitant factors that affect the creation and distribution of knowledge in society. This includes factors such as whether certain types of knowledge are privileged over others.

4. What is the link between ideology and common sense?

Ideology is a form of "common sense" in that it is usually related directly to the domain of ideology. In other words, a study of common sense is often related to the dominant ideologies, value structures and ethical patterns in a given society.

5. How is the notion of habitus related to the sociology of knowledge?

This notion is extremely important as it refers to the habitual mode of thinking and action in a society. In order to fully understand the mode of knowledge and knowledge creation and maintenance in a society, one has to be cognizant of the habitual mode or modes of seeing and perceiving, which often constitutes the core of that society's type and style of knowledge.

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Utopia, Thomas More Presents His
Words: 587 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Lastly, the abolition and non-subsistence to the principles of capitalism leads to the reinforcement of a communal society. This also eliminates the emergence of class conflict as a result of the inherent class division that develops from capitalism. The moral philosophy of the Utopians is primarily based on intellectual development and achievement of reason or rationalization. For them, virtue is the achievement of the common good through the equal provision

Racial Ideology of Latinas /
Words: 11967 Length: 44 Document Type: Literature Review

The novel opens seven years after Gabo's mother, Ximena, was murdered by coyotes -- or paid traffickers -- during an attempt to cross the border. Her mutilated body was found, her organs gone -- sold most likely. Because of the fear surrounding this border town and the lure of the other side, all of the characters become consumed with finding Rafa. These people are neglected and abused. Like other fiction

Science Fiction Novels
Words: 3503 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Utopias Explored: THE TIME MACHINE and BLADE RUNNER Science Fiction and Film Utopian Societies Explored The Ancient Greek work for "no place," utopia has come down to modern readers as something to be the ideal -- the Eden. The actual word comes from the Greek 'ou -- not' and 'topos -- place,' and was coined in the modern sense by the title of a 1516 book written by Sir Thomas Moore. More's Utopia

Utopian Writers of the 17th
Words: 6601 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

" In other words to understand any writer's utopian vision, one must compare and contrast that particular vision to what utopian authors in the classic traditions have already put forward. DEFINITIONS of UTOPIA: J.H. "JACK" HEXTER: Historian, professor and humorist Jack Hexter wrote that "Utopia implies that the nature of man is such that to rely on individual conscience to supply the deficiencies of municipal law is to embark on the bottom-less

Utopian Vision
Words: 1384 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Visions of utopia -- or more commonly, dystopia -- permeate the canon of literature and the arts. Thomas More's Utopia builds upon prior literature on the subject, like Plato's Republic. In More's Utopia, the author builds himself into the work as a character, much as Plato does in his writing. However, More takes Plato's concept of a utopia much farther to provide a rather detailed and comprehensive vision of what

Anachronism Universal Peace and the
Words: 1840 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

They investigate on the nature of virtue and pleasure but they concentrate on the happiness of man and what it is made up of. They uphold that man's happiness consists mainly in the good type of pleasure. They derive arguments from religious principles, despite its roughness and strictness. Without these principles, all searches on happiness can only be merely conjectural and defective (Philosophy Basics). The need for a real-life utopia

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now