Adorno's Negative Dialectic: Philosophy and the Possibility of Critical Rationality (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)

The purely philosophical concerns of Theodor W. Adorno's negative dialectic would seem to be far removed from the concreteness of critical theory; Adorno's philosophy considers perhaps the most traditional subject of "pure" philosophy, the structure of experience, whereas critical theory examines specific aspects of society. But, as Brian O'Connor demonstrates in this highly original interpretation of Adorno's philosophy, the negative dialectic can be seen as the theoretical foundation of the reflexivity or critical rationality required by critical theory. Adorno, O'Connor argues, is committed to the "concretion" of philosophy: his thesis of nonidentity attempts to show that reality is not reducible to appearances. This lays the foundation for the applied "concrete" critique of appearances that is essential to the possibility of critical theory. To explicate the context in which Adorno's philosophy operates—the tradition of modern German philosophy, from Kant to Heidegger—O'Connor examines in detail the ideas of these philosophers as well as Adorno's self-defining differences with them. O'Connor discusses Georg Lukács and the influence of his "protocritical theory" on Adorno's thought; the elements of Kant's and Hegel's German idealism appropriated by Adorno for his theory of subject-object mediation; the priority of the object and the agency of the subject in Adorno's epistemology; and Adorno's important critiques of Kant and the phenomenology of Heidegger and Husserl, critiques that both illuminate Adorno's key concepts and reveal his construction of critical theory through an engagement with the problems of philosophy. The Purely Philosophical Concerns Of Theodor W. Adorno's Negative Dialectic Would Seem To Be Far Removed From The Concreteness Of Critical Theory, Adorno's Philosophy Considers Perhaps The Most Traditional Subject Of Pure Philosophy, The Structure Of Experience Whereas Critical Theory Examines Specific Aspects Of Society. But, As Brain O'connor Demonstrates In This Original Interpretation Of Adorno's Philosophy, The Negative Dialectic Can Be Seen As The Theoretical Foundation Of The Reflexivity Or Critical Rationality Required By Critical Theory. Adorno, O'connor Argues, Is Committed To The Concretion Of Philosophy, His Thesis Of Nonidentity Attempts To Show That Reality Is Not Reducible To Appearances. This Lays The Foundation For The Applied Concrete Critique Of Appearances That Is Essential To The Possibility Of Critical Theory. To Explicate The Context In Which Adorno's Philosophy Operates - The Tradition Of Modern German Philosophy, From Kant To Heidegger - O'connor Examines In Detail The Ideas Of These Philosophers As Well As Adorno's Self-defining Differences With Them. O'connor Discusses Georg Lukacs And The Influence Of His Protocritical Theory On Adorno's Thought; The Elements Of Kant's And Hegel's German Idealism Appropriated By Adorno For His Theory Of Subject-object Mediation; The Priority Of The Object And The Agency Of The Subject In Adorno's Epistemology; And Adorno's Important Critiques Of Kant And The Phenomenology Of Heidegger And Husserl, Critiques That Both Illuminate Adorno's Key Concepts And Reveal His Construction Of Critical Theory Through An Engagement With The Problems Of Philosophy.--jacket. 1. The Role Of German Idealism In The Negative Dialectic -- 2. The Structure Of Adorno's Epistemology : The Priority Of The Object -- 3. The Structure Of Adorno's Epistemology : The Role Of Subjectivity -- 4. The Critique Of Kant -- 5. Adorno On Husserl And Heidegger. Brian O'connor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [175]-199) And Index. "The purely philosophical concerns of Theodor W. Adorno's negative dialectic would seem to be far removed from the concreteness of critical theory, Adorno's philosophy considers perhaps the most traditional subject of "pure" philosophy, the structure of experience whereas critical theory examines specific aspects of society. But, as Brain O'Connor demonstrates in this original interpretation of Adorno's philosophy, the negative dialectic can be seen as the theoretical foundation of the reflexivity or critical rationality required by critical theory. Adorno, O'Connor argues, is committed to the "concretion" of philosophy, his thesis of nonidentity attempts to show that reality is not reducible to appearances. This lays the foundation for the applied "concrete" critique of appearances that is essential to the possibility of critical theory." "To explicate the context in which Adorno's philosophy operates - the tradition of modern German philosophy, from Kant to Heidegger - O'Connor examines in detail the ideas of these philosophers as well as Adorno's self-defining differences with them. O'Connor discusses Georg Lukacs and the influence of his "protocritical theory" on Adorno's thought; the elements of Kant's and Hegel's German idealism appropriated by Adorno for his theory of subject-object mediation; the priority of the object and the agency of the subject in Adorno's epistemology; and Adorno's important critiques of Kant and the phenomenology of Heidegger and Husserl, critiques that both illuminate Adorno's key concepts and reveal his construction of critical theory through an engagement with the problems of philosophy."--BOOK JACKET. The purely philosophical concerns of Theodor W. Adorno's negative dialectic would seem to be far removed from the concreteness of critical theory; Adorno's philosophy considers perhaps the most traditional subject of'pure'philosophy, the structure of experience, whereas critical theory examines specific aspects of society. But, as Brian O'Connor demonstrates in this highly original interpretation of Adorno's philosophy, the negative dialectic can be seen as the theoretical foundation of the reflexivity or critical rationality required by critical theory. Adorno, O'Connor argues, is committed to the'concretion'of philosophy: his thesis of nonidentity attempts to show that reality is not reducible to appearances. This lays the foundation for the applied'concrete'critique of appearances that is essential to the possibility of critical theory. To explicate the context in which Adorno's philosophy operates—the tradition of modern German philosophy, from Kant to Heidegger—O'Connor examines in detail the ideas of these philosophers as well as Adorno's self-defining differences with them. O'Connor discusses Georg Lucà cs and the influence of his'protocritical theory'on Adorno's thought; the elements of Kant's and Hegel's German idealism appropriated by Adorno for his theory of subject-object mediation; the priority of the object and the agency of the subject in Adorno's epistemology; and Adorno's important critiques of Kant and the phenomenology of Heidegger and Husserl, critiques that both illuminate Adorno's key concepts and reveal his construction of critical theory through an engagement with the problems of philosophy. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Abbreviations Used in the Text......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 1 The Role of German Idealism in the Negative Dialectic......Page 34 2 The Structure of Adorno’s Epistemology: The Priority of the Object......Page 64 3 The Structure of Adorno’s Epistemology: The Role of Subjectivity......Page 90 4 The Critique of Kant......Page 118 5 Adorno on Husserl and Heidegger......Page 146 Conclusion......Page 184 Notes......Page 194 References......Page 212 Index......Page 220 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 16 Abbreviations Used in the Text 18 Introduction 20 1 The Role of German Idealism in the Negative Dialectic 34 2 The Structure of Adorno鈥檚 Epistemology: The Priority of the Object 64 3 The Structure of Adorno鈥檚 Epistemology: The Role of Subjectivity 90 4 The Critique of Kant 118 5 Adorno on Husserl and Heidegger 146 Conclusion 184 Notes 194 References 212 Index 220 A unique feature of Adorno's commitment to critical theory is his view that the achievement of a critical rationality-the aim of all versions of critical theory-is an epistemological task.