The Sociology of Theodor Adorno

A lucid account of Theodor Adorno's sociological thinking, detailing the methodological, substantive, critical and textual dimensions of his sociology.

Matthias Benzer (Author)

9781107416741, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 June 2014

280 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

'This book does an excellent job in clarifying Adorno's sociological approach in all its complexity.' LSE Review of Books

Theodor Adorno is a widely-studied figure, but most often with regard to his work on cultural theory, philosophy and aesthetics. The Sociology of Theodor Adorno provides the first thorough English-language account of Adorno's sociological thinking. Matthias Benzer reads Adorno's sociology through six major themes: the problem of conceptualising capitalist society; empirical research; theoretical analysis; social critique; the sociological text; and the question of the non-social. Benzer explains the methodological and theoretical ideas informing Adorno's reflections on sociology and illustrates Adorno's approach to examining social life, including astrology, sexual taboos and racial prejudice. Benzer clarifies Adorno's sociology in relation to his work in other disciplines and the inspiration his sociology took from social thinkers such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Kracauer and Benjamin. The book raises critical questions about the viability of Adorno's sociological mode of procedure and its potential contributions and challenges to current debates in social science.

Introduction
1. Nothing under the sun
2. Sociological material
3. Sociological reflection
4. The socio-critical dimension
5. The sociological text
6. Sociology and the non-social
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Social theory [JHBA], History of ideas [JFCX], Cultural studies [JFC], Philosophy [HP]