What is resonance? What is alienation? How do the two relate? Reflections on Rosa’s theory of resonance and alienation

ABSTRACT

This article explores the concepts of resonance and alienation. Resonance is the phenomenal core of the relationship between social subject and the recreation of meaning. This is normatively neutral concept . Normatively desirable resonance involves enchantment Alienation derives from a particular relationship between subject and object, whereby the object controls the social subject. This is normatively objectionable because the subject becomes a means to the ends of the object. There are two form of alienation, means-ends alienation, (consumerism or exploitation) and end-state alienation(acceleration, reification, and utopian projects). In end-state alienation the social subject loses all capacity for living in the present, thus enchanted resonance disappears.

KEYWORDS:

• Resonance
• reification
• alienation
• enchantment
• Hartmut Rosa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The use of male gender reflects Marx’s work, not mine.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mark Haugaard

Mark Haugaard is Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. He is the founder editor of the Journal of Political Power, published by Routledge, and the book series, Social and Political Power, with Manchester University Press. He has published extensively upon power, and his most recent publication is The Four Dimensions of Power: understanding domination, empowerment and democracy, 2020, Manchester University Press.