Materialism was defined by its problem-focus on suffering, injustice, and practice

Evidence

His idea of publishing a reader on materialism, with texts of Western philosophy from antiquity up to the end of the nineteenth century, was intended to provide self-assurance in the history of philosophy. The criterion for materialism in this context was to be the discussion of a range of problems such as `suffering and poverty in history, the meaninglessness of the world, injustice and oppression, criticism of religion and morality, the connection between theory and historical practice, encouragement of a better organization of society, etc.’ — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 546

Categorization

• DEFINE: Horkheimer’s operative criterion for materialism was problem-focused - suffering, meaninglessness, injustice, critique, practice - rather than metaphysical.
• XREF: connects to: Horkheimer’s materialism defined itself against happiness as illusory and toward social transformation — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 544; Historical materialism requires retaining economic determination without economic reductionism

Broader Connections

• Horkheimer’s materialism defined itself against happiness as illusory and toward social transformation #corroborates (0.78) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 544
• Historical materialism requires retaining economic determination without economic reductionism #qualifies (0.72)