Summary

In "One-Dimensional Man," Herbert Marcuse delivers a sweeping critique of advanced industrial society, arguing that it has created a "one-dimensional" state of mind and being, where critical thought and opposition are suppressed. Marcuse contends that technological rationality, while improving standards of living, has simultaneously integrated individuals into a system of control that permeates all aspects of life, from politics and culture to personal desires and aspirations.

Marcuse examines how advanced industrial societies, both capitalist and communist, employ technology and mass media to manipulate needs and maintain social control. He argues that the promise of comfort and convenience pacifies individuals, making them less likely to question the status quo. This leads to the decline of critical thinking and the erosion of genuine freedom, as people become content with superficial choices and material satisfaction, thereby reinforcing the existing power structures.

The book delves into the mechanisms through which dissent is neutralized. Political opposition is co-opted through bipartisan policies and the collusion of business and labor, while culture is commodified and stripped of its subversive potential. Marcuse critiques the prevailing language and modes of thought, arguing that they have become "one-dimensional," incapable of expressing or even conceiving of alternatives to the established order.

Marcuse also discusses the concept of "repressive desublimation," where sexual and aggressive energies are liberated in ways that ultimately reinforce social control. This pseudo-liberation creates a false sense of freedom, preventing individuals from recognizing their true alienation and the need for radical change. He contrasts this with genuine sublimation, which preserves the tension between the individual's desires and societal constraints, thus maintaining a critical perspective.

Ultimately, "One-Dimensional Man" is a call for a "Great Refusal"—a rejection of the prevailing system and a search for alternative ways of life. While acknowledging the difficulties in envisioning and enacting such a refusal, Marcuse emphasizes the importance of maintaining critical thought and the hope for a future where technology serves human liberation rather than domination. He suggests that the seeds of change may lie with the outcasts and outsiders who have not been fully integrated into the one-dimensional society and are thus more likely to recognize its inherent contradictions.