Theodor W. Adorno emerged as a pivotal German philosopher and social critic in the post-World War II era. His influence is rooted in the interdisciplinary nature of his research and his affiliation with the Frankfurt School. He rigorously examined Western philosophical traditions and offered a radical critique of contemporary Western society. Initially hampered by unreliable translations, Adorno's work has seen a resurgence in English-speaking countries, with improved translations and posthumous publications solidifying his impact on epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and cultural theory.
"Early in the 1960s Adorno gave four courses of lectures on the road leading to Negative Dialectics, his magnum opus of 1966. The second of these was concerned with the topics of history and freedom. In terms of content, these lectures represented an early version of the chapters in Negative Dialectics devoted to Kant and Hegel. In formal terms, these were improvised lectures that permit us to glimpse a philosophical work in progress." -- Cover, p. [4].
Notes to Literature is a collection of the great social theorist Theodor W.
Adorno's essays on such writers as Mann, Bloch, Goethe, and Benjamin, as well
as his reflections on a variety of subjects. This edition presents this
classic work in full in a single volume, with a new introduction by Paul
Kottman.
Two volumes by Theodor W. Adorno are combined in this volume: Interventions - Nine Critical Models (1963) and Catchwords: Critical Model II (1969). Both books are examples of Adorno's postwar commitment to unmasking the culture that engendered Nazism.
In summer 1960, Adorno gave the first of a series of lectures devoted to the relation between sociology and philosophy. One of his central concerns was to dispel the notion, erroneous in his view, that these were two incompatible disciplines, radically opposed in their methods and aims, a notion that was shared by many. While some sociologists were inclined to dismiss philosophy as obsolete and incapable of dealing with the pressing social problems of our time, many philosophers, influenced by Kant, believed that philosophical reflection must remain ‘pure’, investigating the constitution of knowledge and experience without reference to any real or material factors. By focusing on the problem of truth, Adorno seeks to show that philosophy and sociology share much more in common than many of their practitioners are inclined to assume. Drawing on intellectual history, Adorno demonstrates the connection between truth and social context, arguing that there is no truth that cannot be manipulated by ideology and no theorem that can be wholly detached from social and historical considerations. This systematic account on the interconnectedness of philosophy and sociology makes these lectures a timeless reflection on the nature of these disciplines and an excellent introduction to critical theory, the sociological content of which is here outlined in detail by Adorno for the first time.
This volume features key lectures leading to Adorno's 1966 work, Negative Dialectics, focusing on essential concepts from its introductory section. It showcases Adorno as a philosopher navigating his methodology amidst contemporary trends. As a critical theorist, he rejects outdated Marxist stereotypes prevalent in the Soviet bloc, addressing students who fled East before the Berlin Wall's construction in 1961. While influenced by empirical thought from the U.S., he resists its tendency toward scientific abstraction, avoiding a return to traditional idealisms in Germany or the new ontology of Heidegger and his followers. Adorno seeks to articulate a 'negative', critical approach to philosophy, emphasizing the pervasive power of totalizing systems in the post-Auschwitz world. His intellectual negativity leads to a steadfast defense of individuals—both facts and people—who resist integration into 'the administered world.' The lectures reveal Adorno as an engaging speaker, demanding yet lively, interspersing his arguments with insights on philosophers and writers like Proust and Brecht, alongside reflections on current events. This blend of rigorous intellectual discourse and concern for student engagement characterizes his teaching style.
Adorno's exploration of Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" reveals the significant influence Kant has on his philosophical framework. This volume compiles Adorno's lectures, offering insights into Kant's critical philosophy and its implications for modern thought. Through these discussions, Adorno engages deeply with Kant's ideas, shedding light on their relevance and impact on subsequent philosophical discourse.
'Radical Thinkers' is a selection of Verso's leading titles, celebrating 40 years of New Left Books and Verso. The volumes collected here are new editions of the highlights from 4 decades of uncompromising, radical publishing.
This volume presents Adorno's lectures on metaphysics in English for the first time, offering a unique introduction to both metaphysics and Adorno's intellectual perspective as articulated in Negative Dialectics. Adorno defines metaphysics through a central tension between concepts and immediate facts, tracing this dualism back to Aristotle, whom he regards as the founder of metaphysics. In Aristotle, this tension manifests as an unresolved conflict between form and matter, a split that Adorno interprets as a continuous thread throughout metaphysical history. He finds this tension resolved in the Hegelian dialectic. Furthermore, Adorno identifies a critical dichotomy within metaphysics: while it challenges belief in transcendental realms through thought, it simultaneously attempts to affirm belief in a reality beyond the empirical. This ambiguity, according to Adorno, is what lends the metaphysical tradition its significance. The lectures primarily focus on a critical examination of Aristotle's thought and its inherent ambiguities. In his later discussions, Adorno shifts to the relevance of metaphysics in contemporary contexts, particularly post-Holocaust, suggesting that 'metaphysical experiences' offer a fragile refuge for humane truth. This volume is essential for those interested in Adorno's work and serves as a valuable resource for philosophy and social theory scholars.
