Malisa, Mark & Hamstra, Cailyn

On Theodor Adorno and the purposes of education

The relationship between civil society and education was central to Adorno's philosophy of education. His contributions shaped debates and policies on education to the extent that even the United States passed the Never Again Act in recognition of Adorno's analysis of education's potential for preventing a recurrence of Auschwitz. In this systematic literature review paper, we examine why Adorno's complex philosophy of education remains relevant in the 21st Century. At the core of Adorno's critique of education is an analysis of how educational systems contribute to socio-economic conditions, and how the role of teachers as agents of civilization complicates current understandings of the teaching profession and the purposes of education. We conclude by discussing whether the emergence of new forms of educational technology, including AI, offers the potential to transform education and teaching conditions.

Cite: Malisa, Mark & Hamstra, Cailyn 2025. On Theodor Adorno and the purposes of education. Holistic Science Publications, Intellectual History Archive, Finland. https://www.holistic-science-publications.com/i-h-archive2/