Horkheimer’s materialism defined itself against happiness as illusory and toward social transformation

Evidence

When the desire for happiness, which life from beginning to end proves illusory, was put aside and hope alone was left, the alteration of those conditions which cause unhappiness could become the goal of materialist thought. This goal took on a different shape in varying historical situations. Given the evolution of productive forces in antiquity, even the materialist philosophers were forced in the face of suffering to elaborate techniques of an interior life; peace of soul is the only resort in the midst of distress when all external means fail. The materialism of the early bourgeois era aimed, on the contrary, at developing the knowledge of nature and attaining new powers of mastery over nature and man. The wretchedness of our own time is connected with the structure of society; social theory therefore forms the main content of contemporary materialism. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 544

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines Horkheimer’s distinctive ‘materialist theory’ as distinct from ancient and early-bourgeois materialism — useful reference material for how the Frankfurt School positioned itself.
• XREF: This ‘materialism’ self-labeling contrasts with the Marxian orthodoxy of historical materialism; connects to how Horkheimer’s program diverged from both Soviet and orthodox Marxism. — connects to: Horkheimer periodized materialism by the historical shape of the happiness demand; Horkheimer’s materialism rested on happiness as an unjustified demand resolvable through planning — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 545; Materialism was defined by its problem-focus on suffering, injustice, and practice — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 546 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Horkheimer’s materialism rested on happiness as an unjustified demand resolvable through planning #expands (0.85) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 545