Horkheimer and Adorno located culture’s decisive turning point in nature-domination, not capitalism

Evidence

Horkheimer and Adorno believed that by interweaving these two themes they could give a better account of the disastrous consequences of a form of capitalism which had led to fascism than they could by continuing the Marxian critique of capitalism. The core of their conception of the problem was put in its most succinct form in one of the Notes and Drafts' at the end of the book, in the form of a story within a story under the title On the Critique of the Philosophy of History’: A philosophical interpretation of world history would have to show how the rational domination of nature comes increasingly to win the day, in spite of all deviations and resistance, and integrates all human characteristics. Forms of economy, rule, and culture would also be derived from this position.' — <cite>Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1369</cite> (#corroborates`, via linked claim)

The thesis lying behind this was that the decisive event in the history of human culture was not the development of the modern period and of capitalism, but rather humanity’s transition to domination over nature. This turning-point led to the development of the characteristics making up the archaic legacy of contemporary culture. The uninterrupted continuation of this legacy was becoming threateningly apparent in the crisis of contemporary culture, and made it clear that a fresh turning-point was necessary. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1397 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Therborn has made the astute observation that whereas Luktics stressed reification as the essential meaning of capitalism, and others such as the early Marcuse emphasized alienation (Fromm could also be included here), Horkheimer and Adorno regarded the exchange principle as its essence. — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 1635 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Horkheimer and Adorno replaced Marxian capitalism critique with a rational domination of nature thesis — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1369; Horkheimer and Adorno located capitalism’s core in the exchange principle — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 1635; Domination of nature, not capitalism, is the decisive event in human cultural history — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1397

Broader Connections

• Horkheimer and Adorno replaced Marxian capitalism critique with a rational domination of nature thesis #corroborates (1.00) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1369
• Domination of nature, not capitalism, is the decisive event in human cultural history #corroborates (0.98) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1397
• Horkheimer and Adorno located capitalism’s core in the exchange principle #contradicts (0.82) — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 1635