Benjamin wanted to attack the concept of progress at its origins

Evidence

On the other hand, Benjamin noticed towards the end of the essay on the fetish character in music a suggestion of reserve with regard to the concept of progress which particularly appealed to him, and he observed: `You justify this reserve only in passing, for the moment, and with regard to the history of the term “progress”. I would rather take it by the roots and deal with it in its origins.’ — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 237

Categorization

• XREF: Precursor to Benjamin’s later ‘Theses on the Philosophy of History’, where he likewise roots out progress theology at its origins. — connects to: Benjamin defined progress as interruptions of time, not continuity — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 227; Benjamin defined genuine progress as interruption of time’s continuum — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 854; Benjamin conceived artistic progress as interference with time’s continuity, not smooth succession. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 854
• yield-rescued: below the book’s yield-target cutoff, included anyway for connecting to: Benjamin defined progress as interruptions of time, not continuity — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 227; Benjamin defined genuine progress as interruption of time’s continuum — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 854; Benjamin conceived artistic progress as interference with time’s continuity, not smooth succession. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 854