Benjamin’s intellectualism extended to taboos on physical warmth

Evidence

Adorno noted this in one of his essays on Benjamin: “The predominance of spirit extremely alienated his psychical and even psychological existence… . He considered animal warmth tabu; a friend could scarcely dare to lay a hand on his shoulder.” — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 1738

Categorization

• SHARE: A vivid personal detail for someone who admires Benjamin’s writing.