Diese erste zusammenfassende Darstellung der Geschichte der Frankfurter Schule aus den Jahren 1923 bis 1950 zeichnet die politische ebenso wie die wissenschaftliche Entwicklung des Instituts auf. Der Verfasser hatte Zugang zu bis dahin unbekannt gebliebenen Dokumenten und Briefen. Daneben vermittelten Gespräche mit über 20 wichtigen Gestalten der Institutsgeschichte intime Kenntnisse der vielfältigen Institutsarbeiten sowie der inneren und äußeren Probleme des Instituts und der wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzungen mit Gegnern und in den eigenen Reihen. Jay rückt mit seiner differenzierten Arbeit die Frankfurter Schule und die keineswegs uniformen Positionen ihrer Vertreter in ein klares Licht und erschwert es den Kritikern – von rechts wie von links –, allzu leichtfertig beim Etikettieren dieser wichtigen Gruppe von Intellektuellen zu verfahren.
A laboratory for competing visions of modernity, the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) continues to haunt the imagination of the twentieth century. Its political and cultural lessons retain uncanny relevance for all who seek to understand the tensions and possibilities of our age. The Weimar Republic Sourcebook represents the most comprehensive documentation of Weimar culture, history, and politics assembled in any language. It invites a wide community of readers to discover the richness and complexity of the turbulent years in Germany before Hitler's rise to power.Drawing from such primary sources as magazines, newspapers, manifestoes, and official documents (many unknown even to specialists and most never before available in English), this book challenges the traditional boundaries between politics, culture, and social life. Its thirty chapters explore Germany's complex relationship to democracy, ideologies of "reactionary modernism," the rise of the "New Woman," Bauhaus architecture, the impact of mass media, the literary life, the tradition of cabaret and urban entertainment, and the situation of Jews, intellectuals, and workers before and during the emergence of fascism.While devoting much attention to the Republic's varied artistic and intellectual achievements (the Frankfurt School, political theater, twelve-tone music, cultural criticism, photomontage, and urban planning), the book is unique for its inclusion of many lesser-known materials on popular culture, consumerism, body culture, drugs, criminality, and sexuality; it also contains a timetable of major political events, an extensive bibliography, and capsule biographies. This will be a major resource and reference work for students and scholars in history; art; architecture; literature; social and political thought; and cultural, film, German, and women's studies.
The book presents a compelling exploration of significant ideas in the Western cultural tradition, focusing on the nature of human experience. Martin Jay, a prominent intellectual historian, engages with major philosophical questions, demonstrating his ability to address complex themes. Through a thorough examination of historical perspectives, the work offers insights into the evolution of thought and its impact on contemporary understanding.
Exploring the concept of reason through the lens of intellectual history, the book delves into its evolving meanings over two millennia, highlighting key moments of crisis and defense. Martin Jay scrutinizes how reason has shaped human endeavors and its significance in contemporary discourse, addressing questions that have persisted since Plato. Through a critical examination, the work reveals the complexities and nuances surrounding the role of reason in society.
The author's journey through China offers a captivating exploration of monastic Buddhism and its contemporary state. Through encounters with monks and a diverse cast of memorable individuals, he shares insights into their wisdom, humor, and compassion. Readers seeking tranquility and understanding will find valuable lessons in his experiences, making it a thought-provoking account of spiritual discovery and cultural richness.
Exploring the complex relationship between the origins of ideas and their perceived validity, this collection of essays delves into the field of intellectual history. The author, a prominent scholar, presents innovative perspectives on how ideas are created, shared, and critiqued, shedding light on a crucial aspect of modern thought. The work invites readers to reconsider the significance of intellectual discourse and its impact on contemporary issues.
Long considered 'the noblest of the senses', vision has increasingly come
under critical scrutiny by a wide range of thinkers who question its dominance
in Western culture. This work discusses the theory of vision from Plato to
Descartes, and considers its role in the French Enlightenment before turning
to its status in the culture of modernity.
