The Long
Insurgency

Dossier · 1962–2015

Ronald Aronson

A student who used Marcuse's ideas to challenge both society and his teacher

Chronology

1962–2015

196219892015
6 dated events
  1. Aronson enters Brandeis to study with Marcuse Documented · Source 1, p. 188
  2. Aronson defends his dissertation at Brandeis Documented · Source 1, p. 188
  3. Aronson leads Liberation School discussions after the Columbia strike Documented · Source 1, pp.188–189
  4. Aronson contributes to the Socialist Scholars Conference debate Documented · Source 2, unpaginated introduction; Breinesp.29
  5. Radical America publishes 'Dear Herbert' Documented · Source 2, masthead; pp. 3–18
  6. Aronson publishes his New Left retrospective Documented · Source 1, title/copyright pages; pp. 188–201

1962 onward

A student becomes a critic

Ronald Aronson offers a direct account of how Herbert Marcuse's ideas reached an American student. In 1962, he entered Brandeis University to study with Marcuse . He later said that reading Marcuse's Reason and Revolution had drawn him there. He studied Marxism through older debates about reason, freedom and human life. (pp. 188–191) [1]

Aronson became an activist as well as a scholar. After his courses, he helped organize a Black neighborhood in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In spring 1968, he defended a Brandeis thesis on art and freedom in Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophy. His later account names Sartre, and eventually Albert Camus, alongside Marcuse. These were other sources of his ideas. (pp. 188–189, 192–201) [1]

In April 1970, Radical America published his open letter, 'Dear Herbert.' It praised Marcuse's teaching but challenged parts of his work. Aronson's account shows influence through study, debate and change. He did more than accept a teacher's views. (pp. 3–18) [2]

Explore this dossier

Freedom had to reach daily life1969–1970 From graduate study to public debate1962–2015 A documented use of Marcuse's ideas1970 onward Sources and reading notes