The Institute positioned theory as a tool for society’s progressive forces.
Evidence
The Institute will continue its endeavours to promote the theory of society as a whole and the scientific disciplines related to it. The Institute’s research group, which consists of young scholars from several different disciplines, sees theory as a factor contributing to the improvement of society. Conceptual thought by no means has the same value for each of the various powers in society. For some, it is correctly viewed as a damaging encumbrance; but for the progressive forces of humanity it will always be indispensable. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 538
Categorization
- DEFINE: States the Institute’s founding self-definition of theory’s social role in its exile-era preface.
- XREF: connects to: The idea that theory serves practice was widespread across the Marxist movement; Neumann tied legal theory to progressive social function under prevailing conditions — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 932; Theory and practice unite through a critical act that accelerates historical transformation. — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1299 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- The idea that theory serves practice was widespread across the Marxist movement
#corroborates(0.85) - Marxist currents widely subordinated theory to practice’s needs
#corroborates(0.85) - Neumann tied legal theory to progressive social function under prevailing conditions
#exemplifies(0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 932 - Theory and practice unite through a critical act that accelerates historical transformation.
#expands(0.75) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1299