Profession: Philosopher and Sociologist
Biography: Theodor W. Adorno was a German philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist, who played a leading role in the development of critical theory as a member of the Frankfurt School. He is best known for his work in aesthetics, social theory, and the philosophy of music, as well as his critiques of popular culture and the culture industry.
Adorno collaborated with fellow Frankfurt School philosopher Max Horkheimer on their seminal work, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1944), which explored the relationship between reason, enlightenment, and the rise of totalitarianism. This work argued that the self-destructive tendencies of enlightenment thinking led to the suppression of individuality and the creation of a mass culture.
In his book Negative Dialectics (1966), Adorno developed a unique approach to dialectical thinking that sought to engage with the contradictions and crises of modern society. This approach emphasized the importance of negative thinking as a way to resist the totalizing tendencies of traditional dialectics and to preserve the possibility of freedom and autonomy.
Born: September 11, 1903
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Prussia, Germany
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Virgo
Friedrich Engels
Immanuel Kant
William Penn
Ibn Khaldūn
Max Horkheimer
Max Weber