Frankfurt School with Dr. Simon P. L. Tjahjadi

Revisit Frankfurt School and its critical theories with Dr. Simon Petrus Lili Tjahjadi, Rector of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy.

Amid uncertainty and turbulent times, GoetheHaus Jakarta serves as a haven for critical perspectives. Following our deeply resonant gatherings honoring Immanuel Kant’s 300th anniversary and Hannah Arendt’s 50th memorial, we continue this tradition following the recent passing of Jürgen Habermas. Together, we will explore the legacy and relevance of one of the most influential intellectual traditions of the twentieth century: Frankfurt School—officially known as the Institute for Social Research—and its Critical Theories. We trust that it is essential to revisit the Frankfurt School now as the resemblance between the circumstances of the Frankfurt School era and the present—rise of totalitarianism, war, and the collapse of revolutionary hopes.
 
Dr. Simon Petrus Lili Tjahjadi, Rector of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy, will present a summary on the movement including different strands of critical theory:
Habermas’s framework on popular sovereignty and the public sphere—particularly in relation to the trajectory of democracy in Germany,  Adorno and Horkheimer’s criticism of the culture industry, authenticity, and spontaneity—the grounds for a positive concept of enlightenment, Fromm’s thinking about modern capitalist societies creating conditions that lead to both personal alienation and social conformity, Marcuse’s socio-psychological Eros and Civilization that influences the intellectual development of the student movement in Germany. Those thoughts are still highly regarded and relevant in Indonesia and Germany's social, politics, and art scene circumstances today.