ABSTRACT
Max Wertheimer's call to Frankfurt was not free of complications. There had been some initial opposition to his appointment. Shortly before and during Wertheimer's appointment at Frankfurt, the former academy evolved into a major university and, in particular, the social sciences prospered and challenged traditional, established academic programs. The goals of the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research appeared to be consistent at least with Wertheimer's beliefs about the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach to science and humanism. Wertheimer participated in the interdisciplinary activities at Frankfurt. He became a frequent and vigorous contributor to the university's Weisheitsseminar or "wisdom seminar" that attracted a large and diverse group of scholars who would debate a variety of critical social, political, and philosophical issues. Wertheimer was sensitive to the hostility of some of his students and of other young people with whom he interacted in Frankfurt, and occasionally questioned them at length about their political convictions.
