Beschleunigung und Entfremdung

The rapid acceleration of social life is one of the most prominent features of the present, yet it is often overlooked in the social sciences. Hartmut Rosa has laid the groundwork with his significant research in this area. In his new essay, he explains how a critical social theory must be formulated that takes the connection between acceleration and alienation seriously.

At the center of the discussion is the question of the good life and why it often eludes us today. After all, the liberalization of moral norms and social conventions has created greater freedom than ever for individuals in Western societies to choose and realize their own concept of a good life. However, this liberalization is countered by the seemingly unstoppable acceleration of social life in capitalism. This regime of deadlines causes life plans to fail and leads to an increasingly pervasive feeling of alienation.

Carefully and using concrete examples, Rosa seeks forms of non-alienated living. His incisive essay is not only a concise introduction to the theory of acceleration but also opens up initial perspectives on how we can escape the frenzied standstill.