Adorno & the Political (Thinking the Political) Book

Interest in Theodor W. Adorno continues to grow in the English-speaking world as the significance of his contribution to philosophy, social and cultural theory, as well as aesthetics is increasingly recognized. Espen Hammerâ??s lucid book is the first to properly analyze the political implications of his work, paying careful attention to Adornoâ??s work on key thinkers such as Kant, Hegel and Benjamin. Examining Adornoâ??s political experiences and assessing his engagement with Marxist as well as liberal theory, Hammer looks at the development of Adornoâ??s thought as he confronts Fascism and modern mass culture. He then analyzes the political dimension of his philosophical and aesthetic theorizing. By addressing Jürgen Habermasâ??s influential criticisms, he defends Adorno as a theorist of autonomy, responsibility and democratic plurality. He also discusses Adornoâ??s relevance to feminist and ecological thinking. As opposed to those who see Adorno as someone who relinquished the political, Hammerâ??s account shows his reflections to be, on the most fundamental level, politically motivated and deeply engaged. This invigorating exploration of a major political thinker is a useful introduction to his thought as a whole, and will be of interest to scholars and students in the fields of philosophy, sociology, politics and aesthetics.Read More