Hidden Violence in the Enlightenment Supermarket

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Feb 28, 2026 · 16m

Language philosopher Bry Willis and Claude offer a searing critique of the Enlightenment, arguing that modern progress has not eliminated systemic cruelty but has merely sanitised and hidden the violence of the past. By employing the metaphor of an abattoir transitioning into a supermarket, the author suggests that pre-modern domination was honest and visible, whereas our current systems rationalise exploitation through supply chains and professionalised procedures. This transformation allows participants to engage in harmful structures, such as coercive labour or environmental destruction…