Marcuse and Freedom (RLE Social Theory)

This comprehensive study of Marcuses thought concentrates on his theory of freedom, arguing that it is this which supplies the key to all his writings. This argument is substantiated by a detailed chronological examination of Marcuses works. The author shows the rigorous logic underlying Marcuses thinking, which is often obscured in Marcuses own presentation, and pays particular attention to the influence of Heidegger, and of Marxs notion of human labour. This sympathetic reconstruction of the subject attempts to rescue Marcuse from misunderstanding and superficial criticism, and argues that Marcuses most famous work, One Dimensional Man, is in fact an aberration from the mainstream of his work. This book forms one of the most accessible and reliable treatments of Marcuse available.