The Main Theoretical Sources of Herbert Marcuse's Philosophy

Abstract

This article analyzes the main theoretical influences that underpin Herbert Marcuse’s thought, especially the contributions of Hegel, Freud, and Marx to the constitution of his critical theory of society. First, it examines the influence of Hegelian philosophy, particularly the concept of dialectics and the understanding of reason as a negative and critical element of existing reality. Next, it discusses Marcuse’s appropriation of Freudian reflections on civilization, the repression of instincts, and the conflict between the pleasure principle and the reality principle, emphasizing the concepts of surplus repression and performance principle. Subsequently, the article analyzes the influence of Marx, particularly the critique of alienated labor, the reification of social relations, and the forms of domination produced by capitalism. The study demonstrates that Marcuse articulates these three theoretical matrices in order to develop a critique of technological rationality and advanced industrial society, denouncing the mechanisms of integration and control that limit human emancipation. It concludes that Marcuse’s thought remains relevant for understanding the contradictions of contemporary capitalism and the new forms of alienation present in modern societies.