Lukács’s ‘life is not alive’ thesis drove the young Critical Theorists

Evidence

Thus in the very working out of the problems of the Theory of the Novel itself there are decisive signs of that shift from a metaphysical to a historical view of the world that will be ratified by Lukács’ conversion to Marxism. Indeed, I would be tempted to reverse the causal relationship as it is generally conceived, and to claim that if Lukács became a Communist, it was precisely because the problems of narration raised in the Theory of the Novel required a Marxist framework to be thought through to their logical conclusion. — Fredric Jameson, Marxism and Form, 372 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

A number of communistsamong them Karl Korsch, of course, but also, before Lukács was officially condemned at the Fifth Congress of the Comintern, Wittfogel, for examplehailed History and Class Consciousness as a manifestation of revolutionary, activist Marxism. In the years that followed, the book became, for many young intellectuals, a reason for remaining in the Communist Party, which had now been Bolshevized, or for joining it in the first place, or at least for sympathizing with the communist cause. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 323 (#expands, via linked claim)

In any case, already in Adorno and Lukács’s conversation, personal aversions and theoretical differences emerge which would never again be overcome. Here, one can discern not only ‘the germ of Lukács’s future rejection of ontological realism’, but also Adorno’s recurring ‘critique of Lukács’s “partyconformism”’. — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 116 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Lukács’s book kept many young European intellectuals loyal to Bolshevized communism — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 323; Narration problems drove Lukács to Marxism, not the reverse — Fredric Jameson, Marxism and Form, 372; Adorno’s early encounter with Lukács seeded a lifelong theoretical rift — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 116

Broader Connections

• Narration problems drove Lukács to Marxism, not the reverse #corroborates (0.85) — Fredric Jameson, Marxism and Form, 372
• Lukács’s book kept many young European intellectuals loyal to Bolshevized communism #expands (0.82) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 323
• Adorno’s early encounter with Lukács seeded a lifelong theoretical rift #exemplifies (0.80) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 116