Lukács’s Phenomenology of Capitalism

Beschreibung

This book offers a radical new interpretation of Georg Lukács’s History and Class Consciousness, showing for the first time how the philosophical framework for his analysis of society was laid in the drafts of a philosophy of art that he planned but never completed before he converted to Marxism. Reading Lukács’s work through the so-called “Heidelberg Aesthetics” reveals for the first time a range of unsuspected influences on his thought, such as Edmund Husserl, Emil Lask, and Alois Riegl; it also offers a theory of subjectivity within social relations that avoids many of the problems of earlier readings of his text. At a time when Lukács’s reputation is once more on the rise, this bold new reading helps revitalize his thought in ways that help it speak to contemporary concerns.
This book offers a radical new interpretation of Georg Lukács’s History and Class Consciousness, showing for the first time how the philosophical framework for his analysis of society was laid in the drafts of a philosophy of art that he planned but never completed before he converted to Marxism. Reading Lukács’s work through the so-called “Heidelberg Aesthetics” reveals for the first time a range of unsuspected influences on his thought, such as Edmund Husserl, Emil Lask, and Alois Riegl; it also offers a theory of subjectivity within social relations that avoids many of the problems of earlier readings of his text. At a time when Lukács’s reputation is once more on the rise, this bold new reading helps revitalize his thought in ways that help it speak to contemporary concerns.

Offers one of the first full-scale accounts of Lukács’s Heidelberg Aesthetics in English. Reveals the links between Lukács’s account of society and his philosophy of art. Applies Lukács’s thought beyond the paradigm of class conflict, showing what it implies for analysis of human domination of nature, and the notion of rationality as such.

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Richard Westerman

Themen in »Lukács’s Phenomenology of Capitalism«

Critical Theory Western Marxism Phenomenology Social Theory Radical Philosophy History and Class Consciousness Edmund Husserl Emil Lask Alois Riegl Philosophy of art Heidelberg Aesthetics Reification alienation capitalism scientific socialism

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“This monograph is also an invitation to relaunch a phenomenological inquiry into social alienation. It allows us to see phenomenology’s potential for understanding our contemporary situation, alongside, why not, contemporary Critical Theory.” (Clémence Saintemarie, Phenomenological Reviews, November 19, 2019)
“One of the formidable strengths of this book is its fluid style and clear signposting that makes the often-difficult subject material very readable. … Lukács’s Phenomenology of Capitalism is a major contribution to the recent season of Lukács studies, and it succeeds in offering both a new and a convincing perspective on Lukács’s thought.” (Robert Jackson, Symposium, c-scp.org, August 28, 2019)
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