Horkheimer and Adorno replaced Marxian capitalism critique with a rational domination of nature thesis

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.’ — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1369

Categorization

• XREF: This is the crux of the Dialectic’s break from orthodox Marxism — connects to readings of the book as a departure from historical materialism. — connects to: Horkheimer’s dialectical concept of nature-domination was attacked from both rationalism and irrationalism — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 547; Rationalization plus nature-domination themes replaced Marx’s critique for explaining fascism — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1369; Horkheimer and Adorno located culture’s decisive turning point in nature-domination, not capitalism (+6 more)
• DEEPTHINKING: The thesis that rational domination of nature integrates all human characteristics and that economy, rule, and culture derive from it is a paradigm-shifting claim about how to do philosophical history.

Broader Connections

• Adorno rejects mastery of nature as progress because domination entangles humanity in nature #qualifies (0.85) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1585
• Adorno and Horkheimer rejected total identity with nature as regressive stasis #qualifies (0.78) — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 803