Philosophy of Praxis

The early Marx called for the "realization of philosophy" through revolution. Revolution thus became a critical concept for Marxism, a view elaborated in the later praxis perspectives of Lukacs and the Frankfurt School. These thinkers argue that fundamental philosophical problems are, in reality, social problems abstractly conceived.

Originally published as Lukacs, Marx and the Sources of Critical Theory, The Philosophy of Praxis traces the evolution of this argument in the writings of Marx, Lukacs, Adorno and Marcuse. This

reinterpretation of the philosophy of praxis shows its continuing relevance to contemporary discussions in Marxist political theory, continental philosophy and science and technology studies.

Review: "Feenberg's subtle and wide-ranging study of Lukacs' History and Class Consciousness reaches forward to Marcuse and the Frankfurt School and backwards into Marx's 1844 manuscripts. The book offers a whole new framework in which to grasp the history of Marxist theory, at the same time restoring Marcuse's centrality in it." - Fredric Jameson "A model of lucid and sophisticated intellectual history." - Martin Jay, University of California, Berkeley "A most fascinating and significant book." - Theory and Society "A vigorous and thoughtful reassessment of both Lukacs and the Western Marxist tradition - of great interest to anyone interested in critical theory or continental philosophy." - Robert Pippin, University of Chicago "Feenberg achieves his goal of demonstrating the relevance of seemingly dusty and abstract philosophical conundrums not only to contemporary social theory but to politics as well." - The American Political Science Review "[Feenberg's] sensitive and intelligent treatment of a complex constellation of interrelated problems in Marxist studies should commend his book to a wide audience of interested scholars." - Man and World "Poses the central problem of history in such a way that every reader can identify its elements - The author knows the subject thoroughly, and illuminates many points in the texts of his main authors, as well as in those of such subsidiary figures as Marcuse and Habermas." - The Review of Metaphysics