Wolfgang Fritz Haug
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Fritz Haug was from 1979 till his retirement in 2001 professor of philosophy
at the Free University Berlin, where he had also studied romance languages and religious studies
and taken his PhD (in 1966 on the topic of "Jean-Paul Sartre
and the construction of absurdity").
Haug coined the term commodity aestheticism (Warenästhetik, in German). His Critique of Commodity Aesthetics has been translated into numerous languages. Since 1958, he has also been the chief editor of the journal Das Argument, the successor to the Zeitschrift für Sozialforschung (1933–1941). The latter journal was housed at the Institute of Social Research (founded by Max Horkheimer
). In a sense, Haug thus maintains a direct line from the Frankfurt School
. Since 1994, Haug also edits the Historisch-kritische Worterbuch des Marxismus and edited The Historical Critical Dictionary of Marxism, published by the Berlin Institute of Critical Theory. With his wife he was one of the first to become members of the new left wing party Die Linke in 2007.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the Free University Berlin, where he had also studied romance languages and religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
and taken his PhD (in 1966 on the topic of "Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
and the construction of absurdity").
Haug coined the term commodity aestheticism (Warenästhetik, in German). His Critique of Commodity Aesthetics has been translated into numerous languages. Since 1958, he has also been the chief editor of the journal Das Argument, the successor to the Zeitschrift für Sozialforschung (1933–1941). The latter journal was housed at the Institute of Social Research (founded by Max Horkheimer
Max Horkheimer
Max Horkheimer was a German-Jewish philosopher-sociologist, famous for his work in critical theory as a member of the 'Frankfurt School' of social research. His most important works include The Eclipse of Reason and, in collaboration with Theodor Adorno, The Dialectic of Enlightenment...
). In a sense, Haug thus maintains a direct line from the Frankfurt School
Frankfurt School
The Frankfurt School refers to a school of neo-Marxist interdisciplinary social theory, particularly associated with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt am Main...
. Since 1994, Haug also edits the Historisch-kritische Worterbuch des Marxismus and edited The Historical Critical Dictionary of Marxism, published by the Berlin Institute of Critical Theory. With his wife he was one of the first to become members of the new left wing party Die Linke in 2007.
Major books and papers
- Kritik der Warenästhetik (1971).
- High-Tech-Kapitalismus. Analysen zu Produktionsweise, Arbeit, Sexualität, Krieg und Hegemonie, 2003.
- Historisch-kritisches Wörterbuch des MarxismusHistorisch-kritisches Wörterbuch des MarxismusHistorisch-kritisches Wörterbuch des Marxismus is a major international German-language encyclopedia of Marxism. It is published by the Berlin Institute of Critical Theory , Germany. The editor-in-chief is Wolfgang Fritz Haug. The work is planned to be published in 15 volumes, but many volumes...
(in 15 books, 7 already published), 1994-today.