Key Sociologists: The Frankfurt School

Basic Overview

 * The Frankfurt School is best connected to the "Critical Theory" tradition of "social thought.
 * It was initially organized by Felix Weil, who initiated a "First Marxist Work Week" that attracted Pollock and Lukacs in 1922
 * "Institute for Social Research" founded a year later 1922
 * It needs to be remembered that the Institute was founded in the post-Russian Revolution period, in which Central European Sovietism had been surpressed -> Marxism was now to become a intellectual/philosophical tradition (aka "Western Marxism")

Early Phase

 * Directed by Carl Grunberg
 * He believed Marxism was/should be a "social science" not a "philosophy"
 * In his tenure, things were more empirical

Second Phase: Exile

 * 1933 - 1950:: Mostly in the US
 * Neo-Hegelian "Critical Theory" becomes ascendant
 * Dialectical
 * Marxist
 * Philosophical
 * Marcuse becomes a member in 1932
 * Adorno in 1938 (following "loose association since 1931" (13))
 * Hockheimer becomes the Director

Third Phase: Return to Frankfurt

 * "Critical Theory" tradition established, becomes influential
 * Emergence of "New Left" in US through 1950's and 1960's seize on this theory
 * Marcuse becomes major leader
 * Adorno softens
 * Hockheimer retires

Fourth Phase: Decline

 * 1970's onward
 * Adorno dies 1969
 * Hockheimer dies 1973
 * Only surviving continuation (and this is debated) is Jurgen Habermas

Chapters

 * Formation of the School
 * The High Tide of Critical Theory
 * Decline and Renewal
 * Conclusion

Book Info

 * Copyright 1984 Tom Bottomore/Ellis Horwood
 * Printed by Routledge 1989,1995
 * London