From resonance to transformation of the world

Hartmut Rosa’s work on resonance aspires to update the conceptual tools of a critical sociology in the footsteps of the critical theory of the Frankfurt School. By showing that modern societies are marked by alienation due to the acceleration of human activities, Rosa envisions a disalienated relationship to the world, which is measured by the concept of resonance. The question arises, however, as to how the social, political and economic transformation is carried out in order to increase and restore the experiences of resonance. Rosa’s proposals are rather weak in terms of economics and politics, but more assertive in terms of education, one of the major levers of action to promote resonance – despite the limitations that are also discussed in the paper.