THE ANTONINOMIES OF PROGRESS: Theodor Adorno, Amy Allen and the decolonization of critical theory

Abstract

Based on the T. Adorno discussion about the basic elements of modernity, highlighting the barbarism of the civilization process, this text discusses Amy Allen's argument in defense of the necessary intersection between critical theory and postcolonial thought. In order follow the proposal, the structure is (i) presenting Theodor Adorno's thought, with emphasis on his conception of the dialectic of enlightenment, with the sequence of (ii) indicating the possibilities of communication with postcolonial critiques of modernity that serve to synthesize the renewal of critical theory along the Frankfurt lines through Amy Allen — an attempt to respond to the problems of this current theory. The methodology used was the literature review, from the selection of articles and books that address the thought of Theodor Adorno, the dialectic of enlightenment and the postcolonial critique of modernity. From this review, the possibilities of communication between these two theoretical fields were identified as well as the author proposes a renewal of critical theory to deal with current problems.