Through a selection of major works in critical theory and contemporary sociology, this series of explorations offers an opportunity to engage with authors who are often cited but rarely studied collectively. It will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from various disciplines on major cross-cutting issues—such as acceleration, ecology, and democracy, among others—to bring different perspectives together, and to foster collective reflection.

Thursday, January 7, 2027: “Studies on the Authoritarian Personality” by Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno (1950)

Written with colleagues from the Frankfurt School, this book is an empirical study of the personality traits that make individuals susceptible to authoritarian propaganda. In this book, he shows that fascism is not only a political phenomenon, but also a psychological and cultural one that remains relevant today (the rise of populism, conspiracy theories, etc.).

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How is a land survey conducted?

The selected book is divided into several passages, which are read in small groups during the session. Participants read “their” passage on their own for a set amount of time, then come together to share their discoveries, their surprises, what they agree or disagree on, and what they’ve learned.... This is a reading method that enables participants to critically engage with complex knowledge. To do so, it relies on the group to approach a book collectively. It is a tool for the co-construction of knowledge, which starts with the book but encourages participants to move beyond it.