Herbert Marcuse

Date of Birth: July 19, 1898

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: July 29, 1979

Biography

Herbert Marcuse was a German-American philosopher, sociologist, and political theorist, best known for his association with the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. Born on July 19, 1898, in Berlin, Germany, Marcuse was a significant figure in 20th-century thought, offering critical analyses of contemporary capitalist societies. He fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and subsequently lived in Switzerland, France, and eventually the United States, where he became a citizen in 1940. Marcuse’s works, such as “One-Dimensional Man” (1964) and “Eros and Civilization” (1955), critiqued the oppressive structures within capitalist societies and explored possibilities for liberation and human flourishing. He was a prominent intellectual figure during the 1960s and 1970s, influencing the New Left and student movements worldwide. Marcuse passed away on July 29, 1979, in Starnberg, West Germany.

5 Interesting Facts about Herbert Marcuse

1. Herbert Marcuse was a key member of the Frankfurt School, a group of thinkers who developed critical theory.

2. He served in the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, analyzing German society and politics.

3. Marcuse’s “One-Dimensional Man” is considered one of the most significant critiques of modern capitalist societies.

4. He was a mentor to Angela Davis, a prominent political activist and scholar.

5. Marcuse’s ideas played a significant role in the 1960s counterculture movement, influencing protests and radical thought.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Herbert Marcuse

1. “The so-called consumer society and the politics of corporate capitalism have created a second nature of man which ties him libidinally and aggressively to the commodity form.”

2. “Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.”

3. “The power of corporate capitalism has integrated labor and the trade unions into the system of unfreedom.”

4. “Art cannot change the world, but it can contribute to changing the consciousness and drives of the men and women who could change the world.”

5. “A liberation of inherent human capacities, a liberation which will restore the human form of life.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Herbert Marcuse was primarily an academic and intellectual, and as such, he did not accumulate significant personal wealth. His net worth was modest, reflecting his career in academia rather than in business or industry.

Children

Herbert Marcuse had one son, Peter Marcuse, who became an accomplished scholar in his own right. Peter Marcuse is a prominent urban planner and professor emeritus of urban planning at Columbia University.