This post will look at the second chapter of Herbert Marcuse’s essay “Essay on Liberation.” The general gist of this influential essay is to bemoan capitalism and champion the benefits and superiority of socialism. The focus of this chapter in particular is mostly on the benefits and implementation of socialism.
The New Sensibility
A key word in this chapter is the word “sensibility.” From what I can determine it seems that the word “sensibility” in the title relates to worldview or perhaps world order. Therefore, in this chapter, Marcuse is attempting to explain the new worldview or values of individuals who have been liberated from capitalism.
Within this chapter, Marcuse talks about a world in which injustice and misery have been abolition and there is a controlled economy in place. By controlling the economy, people are free from the evils of capitalism. The evils of capitalism appear to be hard work and consumerism as these are concepts Marcuse seems to criticize and complain about.
Marcuse also tries to explain what a liberated consciousness is. A liberated consciousness is someone who has been awakened to the evils of capitalism and understands the natural state of man, which is a socialist being. The way Marcuse describes this is similar to Plato’s Cave Analogy of someone who realizes the way they see the world is a shadow of the actual reality with the chains representing capitalism. I cannot confirm this but Marcuse’s concept of the liberated consciousness may have inspired Freire’s critical consciousness which sounds similar and is focused on realizing the oppression that is found in the pedagogical process.
Marcuse goes on to share how praxis is key. By praxis, an appropriate definition would be social action which generally involves protesting and other forms of destabilizing the existing society. In other words, it is not enough to be awakened as one must push for the manifestation of this awakening in the real world. Friere also speaks of social action and unrest in his work. Socialism is not content to exist along with other worldviews it wants to overtake the world and bring about the utopia that has never existed in recorded human history.
Another aspect of this chapter was Marcuse’s exploration of how art shapes reality. Art can be used to influence and shape reality through the ability to express what is ideal. Through warping reality through the use of art society can be changed for the better as well. Marcuse briefly touches on this idea in this essay but he does explore it in greater detail in his other works.
Conclusion
Marcuse lays out his claims for the need for socialism and how people would act if they were awakened to their true nature. The main failure of the MArcuse’s argument is its theoretical nature. The reality of socialism and communism is a system that lacks the benefits and resources it claims to provide.