Ernst Bloch

Bloch brought a humanistic dimension to Marxist philosophy, embracing spiritual and cultural needs, and influenced liberation theology. He met Lukács at his teacher Simmel’s — an intimate friendship and intense philosophical partnership ensued. Jaspers was a fellow-member of a group of friends who met weekly at Weber’s (who wore his reserve officer’s uniform). Kracauer was a colleague on a Berlin journal, and corresponded for 40 years. Adorno, Weill, Brecht and Herzfelde were also friends, the last two colleagues in U.S. exile. Bloch and Benjamin took drugs together, assiduously annotating their experiences.