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The myth of Santa Claus does to children what God does to adults. In Kant's eyes, Santa Claus is parallel to God. Children will never see or feel him, yet he is absolutely real. Even after individuals find out the truth, they still perpetuate the myth as a way of control over their ignorant children. Rather than behaving in life in order to get into the afterlife, children behave for presents.
Ernst Cassier would follow suit with Kant's ideas on Santa Claus. He believes that men need symbols to create meaning and make sense of the world. Santa Claus, according to Cassier's beliefs, is a product of the adult actions to extract the positive behavior they desire. In his work, Mythologies, Roland Barnes explores the idea that myths are used to control behavior. The myth of Santa Claus is used by those who know the truth to benefit themselves. Children with good behavior mean more parental control.
Many of the ideas brought about within the context of the Frankfurt school also shed new light on the myth of Santa Claus. Theodor W. Adorno believes that the dominant class rules the lower classes through forcing their politics and beliefs on them, (Kellner 2007). Max Horkheimer's belief follows the tradition of growing up and using Santa Claus. Just as individuals have moved from a more surreal or objective view of reality to a more functional and subjective view. People grow up and out of believing in Santa Claus, yet he does not disappear. He is used as a function for those who no longer believe....
Alexis Tocqueville was a French politician and a very early sociologist. He had ties to early Marxist thinking; viewing the myth of Santa Claus within the scope of Tocquevillian thinking, the myth fits nicely into the ideology of Marxism. It becomes a tool to those who know that it does not really exist.
According to the ideas of Jose Ortega y Gasset, both minorities and the masses feel empowered through the myth of Santa Claus. Old Saint Nick has no prejudices, and the myth can apply to everyone who shares that religion. Now; all parents can feel empowered each year through the control they exhibit over their children's behavior each year around Christmas. Alfred E. Taylor believes that each person also has a chance to gain control through using the myth. One's own children will not disregard one's power based on minority or majority status. There is not prejudice towards one's parents, even if one's parents are considered a minority or lower class. This then gives control to all people, no matter what class or race.
Works Cited
Plato. Symposium. MIT.edu Classics. (2000).
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html
McCormick, Mark. (2006). "Immanuel Kant -- Metaphysics." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. California State University Sacramento.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/k/kantmeta.htm
Kellner, Douglas. (2007). "The Frankfurt School." UCLA Graduate School of Education. http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/papers/fs.htm
Works Cited
Plato. Symposium. MIT.edu Classics. (2000).
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html
McCormick, Mark. (2006). "Immanuel Kant -- Metaphysics." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. California State University Sacramento.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/k/kantmeta.htm
Kellner, Douglas. (2007). "The Frankfurt School." UCLA Graduate School of Education. http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/papers/fs.htm
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