Democracy in Tiny Things: Reading Minima Moralia through Axel Honneth’s concept of the Democratic Form of Life
Author：Ming-Chen Lo
Abstract /
Minima Moralia is one of the most widely read of Theodor W. Adorno’s works. Written in eloquent prose, the collection of aphorisms reveals how capitalism damages individual lives in subtle but pervasive ways. The most famous aphorism from the book ― “There is no right life within the wrong” ― has been understood as a radical critique of modern society as a whole. In this paper I will argue that the negativistic interpretations are wrong, since they fail to perceive Adorno’s critique as part of his critique of “formal democracy”. Drawing on Axel Honneth’s theory of the “democratic form of life” and “social freedom”, I will show that the Minima Moralia, including the aphorism mentioned above should be understood as a contribution to strengthening democracy in the daily life of citizens.