Calculus, domination and capitalism: From the dialectic of Enlightenment to the ontological constitution of modernity

Abstract

This paper analyzes the correlations between Horkheimer and Adorno’s essay, “The Concept of Enlightenment”, and Heidegger’s thinking. Without overlooking the differences that exist between the hermeneutical horizons in which these authors operate, the paper focuses on the points of convergence of their respective positions with regard to the interpretation of essential aspects of twentieth-century reality and its storied past. These include the shaping of modern science, its key role in the ontological constitution of reality as a calculable and producible entity, and the forms of domination that it generates through technique. Finally, it is suggested that this convergence is due to the common influence of Marx’s work. This is evident in the case of Horkheimer and Adorno’s work, but is also recognizable in Heidegger’s legacy.