Max Horkheimer(1895-1973)
Horkheimer attended high school. In 1911 he left school early to begin an apprenticeship as a businessman. From 1916, Horkheimer was employed in his father's company for three years. From 1917 to 1918 he served in the First World War. He then completed his Abitur in 1919. In 1919, Horkheimer began studying psychology and philosophy, which he carried out at the universities of Munich and Freiburg and completed his doctorate at the University of Frankfurt am Main in 1922. His dissertation was entitled "Antinomy of Teleological Judgment". Horkheimer met Theodor W. Adorno, which resulted in a friendly relationship. In 1925, Horkheimer presented his habilitation thesis "Kant's Critique of Judgment as a Link Between Theoretical and Practical Philosophy" at the University of Frankfurt am Main. The following year, 1926, he taught as a private lecturer at the University of Frankfurt.
The wedding to Rosa Riekher took place in the same year. In 1930 Horkheimer was appointed full professor of social philosophy at the University of Frankfurt am Main. During this time, together with Herbert Marcuse and Erich Fromm, he founded the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, of which he was appointed director in 1931. From 1932 to 1939 he published the "Magazine for Social Research". The Frankfurt institute was closed in 1933, the year the National Socialists came to power. In the same year Horkheimer retired to Switzerland. From there he moved to the USA in 1934. There he rebuilt the institute at New York's Columbia University. In 1940 Horkheimer became a US citizen. He left New York and moved to California. There he developed the text "Dialectics of Enlightenment" together with Theodor W. Adorno. In the period from 1940 to 1942, Horkheimer also continued publishing the "Magazine for Social Research" under the American title "Studies in Philosophy and Social Science".
From 1943 to 1949, as head of the scientific department of the American Jewish Committee, he was involved in research into anti-Semitism. In 1947, together with Theodor W. Adorno, he published the text "Dialectics of Enlightenment. Philosophical Fragments" on the US market. The title did not appear in Germany until 1969. The work provoked contradictory discussions. In 1949 Horkheimer returned to Germany. He was again appointed professor of social philosophy at the University of Frankfurt am Main. A year later, in 1950, the Institute for Social Research was reopened, which was primarily influenced by Horkheimer's philosophy as cultural criticism. In man's search for happiness and fulfillment, he destroys himself - this is the pessimistic attitude of Horkheimer's social philosophy. From 1951 to 1953 Horkheimer was rector of the University of Frankfurt am Main.
In 1951 he was honored with the Goethe plaque from the city of Frankfurt am Main. From 1954 to 1956 he lectured at the University of Chicago. He retired in 1959. Horkheimer then moved to Montagnola near Lugano. The following year, Horkheimer was made an honorary citizen of the city of Frankfurt am Main. In 1971 he received the Lessing Prize from the city of Hamburg.
The wedding to Rosa Riekher took place in the same year. In 1930 Horkheimer was appointed full professor of social philosophy at the University of Frankfurt am Main. During this time, together with Herbert Marcuse and Erich Fromm, he founded the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, of which he was appointed director in 1931. From 1932 to 1939 he published the "Magazine for Social Research". The Frankfurt institute was closed in 1933, the year the National Socialists came to power. In the same year Horkheimer retired to Switzerland. From there he moved to the USA in 1934. There he rebuilt the institute at New York's Columbia University. In 1940 Horkheimer became a US citizen. He left New York and moved to California. There he developed the text "Dialectics of Enlightenment" together with Theodor W. Adorno. In the period from 1940 to 1942, Horkheimer also continued publishing the "Magazine for Social Research" under the American title "Studies in Philosophy and Social Science".
From 1943 to 1949, as head of the scientific department of the American Jewish Committee, he was involved in research into anti-Semitism. In 1947, together with Theodor W. Adorno, he published the text "Dialectics of Enlightenment. Philosophical Fragments" on the US market. The title did not appear in Germany until 1969. The work provoked contradictory discussions. In 1949 Horkheimer returned to Germany. He was again appointed professor of social philosophy at the University of Frankfurt am Main. A year later, in 1950, the Institute for Social Research was reopened, which was primarily influenced by Horkheimer's philosophy as cultural criticism. In man's search for happiness and fulfillment, he destroys himself - this is the pessimistic attitude of Horkheimer's social philosophy. From 1951 to 1953 Horkheimer was rector of the University of Frankfurt am Main.
In 1951 he was honored with the Goethe plaque from the city of Frankfurt am Main. From 1954 to 1956 he lectured at the University of Chicago. He retired in 1959. Horkheimer then moved to Montagnola near Lugano. The following year, Horkheimer was made an honorary citizen of the city of Frankfurt am Main. In 1971 he received the Lessing Prize from the city of Hamburg.
