Mass consent does not make a society rational, only repressive

Evidence

The fact that the vast majority of the population accepts, and is made to accept, this society does not render it less irrational and less reprehensible. The distinction between true and false consciousness, real and immediate interest still is meaningful. But this distinction itself must be validated. Men must come to see it and to find their way from false to true consciousness, from their immediate to their real interest. They can do so only if they live in need of changing their way of life, of denying the positive, of refusing. It is precisely this need which the established society manages to repress to the degree to which it is capable of “delivering the goods” on an increasingly large scale, and using the scientific conquest of nature for the scientific conquest of man. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 93

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the true/false consciousness and real/immediate interest distinctions, core concepts.
• XREF: Bridges directly to the reader’s attention/consumption economics — ‘delivering the goods’ as the mechanism by which the need to refuse is repressed. — connects to: Mass acceptance of a society does not make it rational or defensible — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 93; Non-arbitrary governance needs contestability rather than actual consent — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 839; Being nominally in a society does not mean being of it — David Theo Goldberg, The Threat of Race: Reflections on…, 289 (+5 more)
• ADDENDUM: The conquering-of-nature-for-conquest-of-man line directly extends the ‘Grafting & Growth’ article’s treatment of technological domination over nature.

Broader Connections

• Mass acceptance of a society does not make it rational or defensible #corroborates (0.95) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 93
• Mass culture deception is self-consenting misconception, not top-down manipulation #expands (0.78) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 845
• Liberties granted within a repressive society can themselves serve repression #expands (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2582
• Non-arbitrary governance needs contestability rather than actual consent #expands (0.72) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 839
• Disillusionment with failing paradigms does not free people from them. #expands (0.72) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 1037
• Being nominally in a society does not mean being of it #complicates (0.70) — David Theo Goldberg, The Threat of Race, 289
• Consent cannot justify self-enslavement because no one owns his own life #qualifies (0.70) — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 31
• Fascist egalitarianism is repressive, not liberating #exemplifies (0.70) — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry, 199