disenchantment

Disenchantment is a term used in sociology and philosophy to describe the process by which magical, religious, or mythic explanations of the world are replaced by secular, rational, or scientific ones. It is closely associated with the German term Entzauberung and with the sociologist Max Weber, who argued that modernization entails the disenchantment of the world, as enchantment is drained from natural phenomena and social life and authority shifts toward science, bureaucracy, and rational planning.

Historically, disenchantment is linked to the Enlightenment, the scientific revolution, and the spread of modern institutions. It describes how public life, education, and governance increasingly rely on empirical methods and formal rules rather than magic, superstition, or religious authority. Scholars debate its scope and implications; some view disenchantment as liberating, enabling predictable knowledge and control over nature, while others see it as contributing to existential boredom or loss of meaning. The concept is often discussed alongside secularization, rationalization, and the differentiation of modern social spheres.

In contemporary culture, the term also appears as a proper title in media. Disenchantment is a Netflix animated series created by Matt Groening that premiered in 2018. The show is set in the medieval kingdom of Dreamland and follows Princess Bean, her elf companion Elfo, and their demon companion Luci. It blends fantasy and humor with serialized storytelling and has drawn mixed reviews for its ambition, pacing, and tonal shifts.