Horkheimer chose philosophy only after a rival publication blocked his psychology dissertation

Evidence

In Frankfurt he started to write a dissertation on Changes of Form in the Colour-blind Zone of the Blind Spot of the Eye for his doctorate in his main subject, psychology. This project was frustrated by the publication of an almost identical work in Copenhagen. Cornelius then encouraged Horkheimer, as his favourite student, to take a philosophy doctorate with him, with a dissertation on The Antinomy of Teleological Judgement, and offered him an assistantship when he had completed his degree. It was only at this point that Horkheimer decided in favour of an academic career as a philosopher and finally turned away from his father’s business profession. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 178

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the wider biography of Horkheimer’s late, deliberate turn to theory over his father’s business — a pattern echoing his equally slow embrace of Marxism. — connects to: Horkheimer came to philosophy late, after commerce and psychology — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 97

Broader Connections

• Horkheimer came to philosophy late, after commerce and psychology #expands (0.95) — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 97