Administered satisfaction corrodes conscience into happy acceptance of society’s misdeeds.

Evidence

The Superego, in censoring the unconscious and in implanting conscience, also censors the censor because the developed conscience registers the forbidden evil act not only in the individual but also in his society. Conversely, loss of conscience due to the satisfactory liberties granted by an unfree society makes for a happy consciousness which facilitates acceptance of the misdeeds of this society. It is the token of declining autonomy and comprehension. Sublimation demands a high degree of autonomy and comprehension; it is mediation between the conscious and the unconscious, between the primary and secondary processes, between the intellect and instinct, renunciation and rebellion. In its most accomplished modes, such as in the artistic oeuvre, sublimation becomes the cognitive power which defeats suppression while bowing to it. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 336

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘happy consciousness’ directly maps onto the attention-economy critique: a culture of constant satisfied stimulation is exactly the ‘happy consciousness’ that renders systemic misdeeds acceptable. — connects to: Mass diversion was devised to compensate for repressing genuine individual happiness — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 231; Administered satisfaction produces voluntary compliance without terror. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 333; Conscience lets society externalize reward costs onto the individual (+1 more)
• QUESTION: Marcuse wrote before mass consumer data; does the quantified-self drive make the happy consciousness even more thoroughly administered than he could imagine?

Broader Connections

• Administered satisfaction produces voluntary compliance without terror. #expands (0.85) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 333
• Conscience lets society externalize reward costs onto the individual #qualifies (0.75)
• Sanctifying harmful means as worthy removes guilt and even elicits pride #exemplifies (0.75)