Does knowledge emancipate?

The paper analyzes and problematizes the self-understanding of relationship between emancipation or liberation on one hand knowledge truth other. authors point to at least an equally convincing counter-tradition challenging emancipatory potential - which they present in two separate parts article. first part is dedicated historical notions as dangerous, destructive aggravating. If goal happiness, well-being serenity, should be given up. second questions assumption a consequence knowledge. basis this connection lies idea freedom, understood not absence obstacles, but field self-control direction for only (of necessity) qualifies. This way, does liberate by offering different choices, spares individuals frustration striving impossible. Eventually, postmodernist philosophers suggest abandoning very emancipation, condemning every collective ?will emancipate? fatal totalitarian project. For their part, detect, has always been inextricably linked imbued with power relations. Now it finally separated itself from illusions personal social transformation openly put into service longer that truth, its own usability, usefulness, profitability effectiveness. In conclusion, out contemporaneity status question traditionally signal possibilities character liberated ?liberating? function.