Marcuse's critical theory of modernity

• Published in: Philosophy & social criticism Vol. 34; no. 9; pp. 1071 - 1093
• Main Author: Hammer, Espen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2008; Sage Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: 20th century; Adorno, Theodor W; Adorno, Theodor Wiesengrund (1903-1969); Critical Theory; Ego; Egoism; Freedoms; Freud, Sigmund; Historical studies (History of philosophy. History of ideas); Marcuse, Herbert; Marcuse, Herbert (1898-1979); Modernity; Mourning; Narcissism; Philosophy; Political Action; Politics; Self-actualization; Social Change; Social dynamics; Utopias; Century 20; politics; utopia; Adorno; Freud; modernity; mourning; transience; ego-formation; Marcuse; narcissism; Modernity; Adorno; ego-formation·Freud; Philosophy history; modernity· mourning; narcissism; Marcuse (H.); transience; utopia
• ISSN: 0191-4537; 1461-734X
• DOI: 10.1177/0191453708098538

Analyzing Eros and Civilization, in this article I argue that Marcuse is incapable of offering an account of the empirical dynamics that may lead to the social change he envisions, and that his appeal to the benefits of automatism is blind to its negative effects. I then claim that Marcuse's vision of the good life as centered on libidinal self-realization, if actualized, would threaten the freedom of individuals and potentially undermine their sense of self-integrity. Comparing Marcuse's position with that of Adorno, I argue that the former fails to take temporality and transience properly into account. Unlike Adorno, Marcuse has no genuine appreciation of the need for mourning. Instead, Marcuse's concept of primary narcissism, which is meant to represent the gist of his utopian vision, leads him to recommend an essentially melancholic position. I finally argue that political action requires a stronger ego-formation than what Marcuse's conception allows for.