In An Essay on Liberation betoogt Herbert Marcuse that traditional views on freedom have become outdated due to the development of the industrial society. He argues that social theory must go beyond the formula "from each according to ability, to each according to need," and should instead investigate what human needs entail. Marcuse argues that even when the means of production are controlled by workers, society remains repressive as long as workers do not share the aspirations and needs of free people. The essay covers topics such as philosophical anthropology and aesthetics and offers new perspectives on human liberation. The chapters include, among others, 'A Biological Foundation for Socialism?', 'The New Sensibility', 'Subverting Forces—in Transition' and 'Solidarity'.