Episode #229 - Kafka and Totalitarianism (Arendt, Adorno)

In this episode of Philosophize This!, Stephen West explores the interpretations of Franz Kafka's work by 20th-century thinkers, specifically Theodore Adorno and Hannah Arendt. West contrasts Adorno's view that Kafka should be taken literally, seeing his work as a depiction of general structures of domination and repressive reason, with Camus' allegorical interpretation. He uses Orwell's Animal Farm as a contrasting example of allegory. The episode then delves into Arendt's perspective, viewing Kafka's writings as analyses of modern life and totalitarianism, highlighting themes like bureaucracy, the imposition of "necessary" actions by those in power, and the sense of loneliness and statelessness experienced by individuals. West uses Kafka's "The Castle" and "The Trial" to illustrate these points, connecting them to Arendt's "The Origins of Totalitarianism." The episode concludes by noting the multiple interpretations of Kafka's work and inviting listeners to share their own perspectives.