This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.
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This reading group focuses on Minima Moralia, in which key themes and ideas - those of modernity, enlightenment, fascism, capitalism, culture and aesthetics - are developed by Theodor W. Adorno in aphoristic form. Particular attention will be given to Adorno’s analysis of ‘damaged life’, the critique of mass culture and commodification, and the tension between individual experience and social totality. The course will also consider the historical context of the text’s formation, as well as the continuing relevance of Adorno’s critique for understanding contemporary capitalism and culture. It will also consider the relation between philosophical form and content.
What will we cover?
- Individual and philosophical experience
- Fascism
- Capitalism
- The possibility of anti-systemic philosophy
- The relation between psychoanalysis and philosophy
- The culture industry
- Aesthetics
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the historical and intellectual context of Minima Moralia and its place within the tradition of Frankfurt School critical theory.
- Explain key concepts in Adorno’s thought, including ‘damaged life’, reification, commodification, mass culture, and social totality.
- Analyze how Adorno connects everyday experience to broader social, political, and economic structures.
- Critically engage with the aphoristic and fragmentary form of the text as a philosophical method.
- Relate Adorno’s critique of modern society to debates about capitalism, culture, authoritarianism, and modernity.
- Develop skills in close reading, textual interpretation, and collective philosophical discussion.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a beginner’s course and will not require any prior knowledge. An open mind and a willingness to listen and respond to views with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will combine a close reading of Minima Moralia with critical discussions. There will be set reading each week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No additional costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in HP255 History of ideas: philosophy and the concept of globalisation, and HP251 Philosophy and colonialism, taught over the same six weeks by the same tutor.
Jessica is a postdoctoral researcher in philosophy. She has previously taught courses at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Education College and at Kingston University on topics such as philosophy and art, feminist theory, German critical theory and Hegel. Her primary interests are in critical theory, Marxism, postcolonial and decolonial thought, feminist theory and the interrelations between philosophy, sociology and historiography. She completed her PhD on the concept of history in the philosophy of Theodor W. Adorno. Prior to this, Jessica undertook an MPhil Stud at University College London. She was recently a visiting postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Social Critique at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Her current research focuses on theorisations of ‘globalisation’ and their relation to concepts of ‘society’ and ‘totality’ within both philosophy and sociology.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/philosophy-reading-group-adorno-s-minima-moralia3071152Philosophy reading group: Adorno's Minima Moraliahttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/philosophy-reading-HP129-1024.jpg189189GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Philosophy, religion, & ideas/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Philosophy, religion, & ideas/Philosophy/Courses/Online courses228511771404157917311228511771404<p>This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.</p>003071080Philosophy reading group: Adorno's Minima Moralia189189https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/philosophy-reading-HP129-1024.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2027-01-19T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2027Culture, history & humanitiesHP242189189Philosophy reading group: Adorno's Minima Moralia151123189Jessica Feelyphilosophy-reading-group-adorno-s-minima-moralia/hp242-2627<p>This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.</p>0000-Available|2027-01-19 00:00:00<p>This reading group focuses on Minima Moralia, in which key themes and ideas - those of modernity, enlightenment, fascism, capitalism, culture and aesthetics - are developed by Theodor W. Adorno in aphoristic form. Particular attention will be given to Adorno’s analysis of ‘damaged life’, the critique of mass culture and commodification, and the tension between individual experience and social totality. The course will also consider the historical context of the text’s formation, as well as the continuing relevance of Adorno’s critique for understanding contemporary capitalism and culture. It will also consider the relation between philosophical form and content.</p><p>This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.</p><p>- Individual and philosophical experience</p><p>- Fascism</p><p>- Capitalism</p><p>- The possibility of anti-systemic philosophy</p><p>- The relation between psychoanalysis and philosophy</p><p> </p><p>- The culture industry</p><p>- Aesthetics</p><p>- Understand the historical and intellectual context of Minima Moralia and its place within the tradition of Frankfurt School critical theory.</p><p>- Explain key concepts in Adorno’s thought, including ‘damaged life’, reification, commodification, mass culture, and social totality.</p><p>- Analyze how Adorno connects everyday experience to broader social, political, and economic structures.</p><p>- Critically engage with the aphoristic and fragmentary form of the text as a philosophical method.</p><p>- Relate Adorno’s critique of modern society to debates about capitalism, culture, authoritarianism, and modernity.</p><p>- Develop skills in close reading, textual interpretation, and collective philosophical discussion.</p><p>This is a beginner’s course and will not require any prior knowledge. An open mind and a willingness to listen and respond to views with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.</p><p>The course will combine a close reading of Minima Moralia with critical discussions. There will be set reading each week.</p><p>No additional costs.</p><p>You might also be interested in HP255 History of ideas: philosophy and the concept of globalisation, and HP251 Philosophy and colonialism, taught over the same six weeks by the same tutor.</p>Philosophy, religion, & ideasPhilosophyvirtual151189123HP242NONETue19/01/27 - 23/02/2718:30 - 20:3018:3020:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineJessica FeelyAvailable courses2027-01-19T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2027Culture, history & humanities189189Philosophy reading group: Adorno's Minima Moraliaphilosophy-reading-group-adorno-s-minima-moralia/hp242-2627<p>This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.</p>0000-Available|2027-01-19 00:00:00<p>This reading group focuses on Minima Moralia, in which key themes and ideas - those of modernity, enlightenment, fascism, capitalism, culture and aesthetics - are developed by Theodor W. Adorno in aphoristic form. Particular attention will be given to Adorno’s analysis of ‘damaged life’, the critique of mass culture and commodification, and the tension between individual experience and social totality. The course will also consider the historical context of the text’s formation, as well as the continuing relevance of Adorno’s critique for understanding contemporary capitalism and culture. It will also consider the relation between philosophical form and content.</p><p>This reading group explores Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 text Minima Moralia, written during his exile from Nazi Germany in the 1940s. As a collection of aphorisms, the text examines how capitalist society shapes everyday life, subjectivity and culture.</p><p>- Individual and philosophical experience</p><p>- Fascism</p><p>- Capitalism</p><p>- The possibility of anti-systemic philosophy</p><p>- The relation between psychoanalysis and philosophy</p><p> </p><p>- The culture industry</p><p>- Aesthetics</p><p>- Understand the historical and intellectual context of Minima Moralia and its place within the tradition of Frankfurt School critical theory.</p><p>- Explain key concepts in Adorno’s thought, including ‘damaged life’, reification, commodification, mass culture, and social totality.</p><p>- Analyze how Adorno connects everyday experience to broader social, political, and economic structures.</p><p>- Critically engage with the aphoristic and fragmentary form of the text as a philosophical method.</p><p>- Relate Adorno’s critique of modern society to debates about capitalism, culture, authoritarianism, and modernity.</p><p>- Develop skills in close reading, textual interpretation, and collective philosophical discussion.</p><p>This is a beginner’s course and will not require any prior knowledge. An open mind and a willingness to listen and respond to views with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.</p><p>The course will combine a close reading of Minima Moralia with critical discussions. There will be set reading each week.</p><p>No additional costs.</p><p>You might also be interested in HP255 History of ideas: philosophy and the concept of globalisation, and HP251 Philosophy and colonialism, taught over the same six weeks by the same tutor.</p>Philosophy, religion, & ideasPhilosophyconfigurable
15791404Philosophyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/philosophy-religion-belief/philosophy1/2/285/1177/1404/15791/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Philosophy, religion, & ideas/Philosophy
