Max Horkheimer

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Max Horkheimer
Born(1895-02-14)February 14, 1895
DiedJuly 7, 1973(1973-07-07) (aged 78)
NationalityGerman, American
Era20th century philosophy
RegionWestern Philosophy
SchoolFrankfurt School, critical theory, Western Marxism
Notable ideas
Critical theory opposed to traditional theory, the culture industry, authoritarian personality, eclipse of reason

Max Horkheimer (February 14, 1895 – July 7, 1973) was a German-American philosopher and sociologist. He was famous for his work in critical theory as a member of the 'Frankfurt School' of social research.

Works[change | change source]

His most important writing includes The Eclipse of Reason (1947), "Between Philosophy and Social Science" (1930–1938) and, together with Theodor Adorno, The Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947). Through the Frankfurt School, Horkheimer planned, supported, and made other significant works possible.[1]

After Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, Horkheimer, who was Jewish, left Germany and went to live in the United States.

Collected works[change | change source]

His collected works have been issued in German as Gesammelte Schriften, 19 volumes, edited by Alfred Schmidt and Gunzelin Schmid Noerr. S. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1985-1996.

References[change | change source]

  1. "Horkheimer, Max" Dictionary of the Social Sciences. Craig Calhoun, ed. Oxford University Press 2002. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. College of the Holy Cross. 14 October 2009 Oxford profile