Obscenity is a moral concept in the verbal arsenal of the establishment, which abuses the term by applying it, not to expressions of its own morality but to those of another.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that the word "obscenity" is often used by those in power to criticize the ideas and beliefs of others, rather than their own actions or beliefs. In other words, the powerful groups in society decide what is considered "obscene" or unacceptable, and then use this label to attack the views and expressions of those who challenge their authority or moral standards.
About Herbert Marcuse
Herbert Marcuse was a prominent German-American philosopher, social critic, and political theorist associated with the Frankfurt School. He criticized capitalism, modern technology, and popular culture, arguing they represent new forms of social control. Marcuse became known as the pre-eminent theorist of the New Left and student movements in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Obscenity is a moral concept in the verbal arsenal of the establishment, which abuses the term by applying it, not to expressions of its own morality but to those of another.
German philosopher, sociologist, and political theorist (1898-1979)