Abstract

This authoritative survey traces the development of Lukcs' thought from his conversion to Marxism to his renunciation of "History and Class Consciousness," from his remarkably fertile 'essay period' to the "Ontology." The essays explore the evolution of his work in relation to that of his contemporaries, among them Brecht, Bloch, and Husserl. They reflect at every turn the contributors' broad commitment to Lukcs' philosophy, but they are always critical in their approach. Lukcs' ambiguities are noted without compromise and his inconsistencies deftly exposed.