Erich Form was born in a Jewish family. Interestingly, he was considered a non-Frenchman. The subject of irrationality and destructiveness became later fundamental to his creativity. 1933 (with the election of Hitler and his party) began the persecution of the Jews. Erich Form goes to live in the United States; joins the Frankfurt School.
The Frankfurt School originated in 1930. within the framework of the University of Frankfurt. The father of the school is Max Horkheimer. He created an Institute for Social Studies at the University. Later, Jews joined him, which forced them to leave Germany and go to Columbia University in New York. The Frankfurt School is a specific synthesis of Marxism and Freudism. This school is the critical theory of modern industrial society. The main theme is the erosion of the ideals of the Enlightenment. The Frankfurt School is a kind of conglomerate of ideas from various sources, united by the fact that late capitalism has led to hostile alienation in the people.
Why is Erich Form and Not a member of the Frankfurt School? In his teachings (radical humanism) he directs himself to the study of man. In his foreground, not society but man. But it is also close to Marxism (in Marxism, human behavior is determined by the limits set by society)."Escape from Freedom". From's intention is to unite the Freudian analysis of the individual with the Marxist understanding of society. From does not adhere to Freud's thesis (that person's personality is naturally predestined). In this work, From follows the development of man's individuality, emphasizing that there is progress in this development, the possibilities of man expand. What is specific is that the increase in the degree of autonomy and freedom of choice is associated with a reverse negative process - a loss of sense of security and a sense of insignificance, vulnerability. So the progress of individuality and freedom is accompanied by uncertainty and personal insignificance. One faces a dilemma: the "unseen" freedom and, at the same time, a sense of lack of safety.