Henri Lefebvre 1901 – 1991
Henri Lefebvre was a French Marxist philosopher and sociologist whose work shaped the critical theory of everyday life and the philosophy of urban space. A long-time member of the French Communist Party until his expulsion in 1958, he produced the three-volume Critique of Everyday Life, in which he argued that the alienation diagnosed by Marx persists in the rhythms and routines of modern life. His later Production of Space provided the foundation for a new Marxist geography, and his concept of the right to the city has become central to contemporary urban studies and political theory.
Key facts
- Nationality
- French
- Era
- Contemporary
- Movements
- Marxism, Critical Theory
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Henri Lefebvre:
“Everyday life is the supreme court where wisdom, knowledge and power are brought to judgment.”
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Attributed to Henri Lefebvre:
“Space is a social product.”
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Attributed to Henri Lefebvre:
“The right to the city is the right to remake ourselves and our city.”
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Attributed to Henri Lefebvre:
“The most extraordinary things are also the most everyday.”
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Attributed to Henri Lefebvre:
“Change life! Change society!”