The essence as a remedy against the resignation of theory

Refections on the concept of essence in the early production of Herbert Marcuse (1928-1942)

Abstract

This paper deals with the concept of essence, such as Marcuse thematises it in his early production. That concept will be analysed therefore in his project of a concrete philosophy, resulting of the interplay between phenomenology and dialectics (1928-1932), and in his contributions to the early critical theory (1933-1942). It will be argued that the concept of essence, despite the transformation of Marcuse’s work after 1933, continuously acts as a remedy against the fundamental attitude of resignation, that defines the traditional or bourgeois forms of theory, preventing a genuine realisation of an effective tie between theory and emancipatory praxis.