The Ruthless Critique of Everything Existing: Nature and Revolution in Marcuse's Philosophy of Praxis

Herbert Marcuse was a famous philosopher in the 1960s and 70s who was the face of Frankfurt School Critical Theory. He supported young people's struggles against imperialism, race, and gender discrimination and foresaw the implications of the destruction of the natural environment. His Marxism was influenced by Husserl, Heidegger, Hegel, and Freud, and he contrasted the one-dimensionality of conformist experience with the new sensibility of the New Left. He believed that a socialist revolution would fail if it did not transform science and technology into means of liberation. This aspiration is alive today in the radical struggle over climate change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

Herbert Marcuse, a renowned philosopher of the 20th century, gained widespread recognition for his influential ideas and writings. During the tumultuous years following 1968, he emerged as the prominent figurehead of Frankfurt School Critical Theory, captivating a generation grappling with profound societal transformations. Marcuse's fame rested on two remarkable books, "Eros and Civilization" and "One-Dimensional Man," which captured the utopian aspirations and dystopian fears of the time. These works, published in the 1960s and 70s, resonated with young individuals seeking a theoretical framework to underpin their revolutionary movements. Marcuse not only lent his support to their struggles against imperialism, racism, and gender discrimination but also foresaw the far-reaching consequences of the destruction of the natural environment. His Marxist ideology drew upon a diverse range of influences, including Husserl, Heidegger, Hegel, and Freud, shaping an original critique of advanced capitalism. Marcuse's analysis focused on the social construction of subjectivity and technology, highlighting their role in perpetuating capitalist dominance. He contrasted the one-dimensional experience of conformism with the emerging sensibility of the New Left, advocating for a transformative approach that aimed to liberate both nature and human beings. This vision of a socialist revolution remains relevant today, as the world faces the urgent challenge of climate change. Marcuse's theoretical insights offer valuable resources for understanding and addressing this global crisis. His ideas continue to inspire radical movements and activists who seek to transform the destructive forces of science and technology into instruments of liberation and sustainability.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 209 x 141 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804290835