Horkheimer, Max

Bio Sketch

Max Horkheimer (1895-1973) was a German philosopher and sociologist, director of the Frankfurt School's Institute for Social Research. With Adorno, he developed critical theory and wrote Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947), critiquing instrumental reason and the culture industry.

Key Works

• Dialectic of Enlightenment (1947, with Adorno)
• Critical Theory (1968)

Key Concepts

• critical-theory
• instrumental-reason
• culture-industry

Relevance to Geoffrey's Research

Horkheimer's critical theory provides foundations for analyzing architecture's role in capitalism and ideology. His work connects to Benjamin and the Frankfurt School tradition.

Source Support

• elliott-benjamin-for-architects