Twilight of the Self

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In this work, political theorist Michael J. Thompson argues that modern societies are experiencing a decline in the core elements of the autonomous self, which he asserts is essential for building a modern democratic culture and polity. He identifies the rise of the "cybernetic society" as a key factor in this decline, where the social logics of economy, culture, and polity have become increasingly unified under the imperatives of economic growth and technical management. This societal shift, emerging from the neoliberal transformations since the 1980s, has altered the articulation of individuality in contemporary life. Thompson explores the resulting pathologies of self and consciousness, including hyper-reification, alienated moral cognition, false consciousness, and the withered ego, highlighting the profound deformation of modern selfhood. He argues that to address these issues, we must develop a more robust and socially embedded concept of autonomy as critical agency, which is essential for reconstructing the principles of democratic individuality and community.