Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 10:31:57 -0500
From: Ralph Dumain <rdumain-AT-igc.org>
Subject: Re: Adorno


Torben, you may be surprised that I largely agree with you.  If you had
been subscribed to this list for a number of years, you will note that I
have often praised Adorno as well as harshly criticized him.  But you say
you are new here.  In fact, I find Adorno one of the most quotable of
philosophers.  I think he is at his best precisely when criticizing
bourgeois philosophy and defending the powers of the intellect against
ideological sabotage.  I find his work on philosophical topics far more
convincing than his take on the culture industry.  I have reproached him
and his fellows for their ignorance regarding physical science, but I have
also used Adorno in criticism of the narrowness of analytical philosophy,
as I did in a recent letter to the editor of a philosophical magazine.  So
I am not especially opposed to Adorno, though I do find some limitations in
him.  I am much more cynical about the academic industry surrounding the
Frankfurt School.

I also agree that not every one can write in every instance in a manner
immediately comprehensible to the general public, but I consistently find
that people in the Frankfurter academic industry in the US make no effort
at all to make themselves comprehensible to anyone.  I don't claim that
Dennis Redmond is lacking in good ideas, but if he means what he says, he's
going to have to engage the rubes at some point and fill in some of the
blanks.  I'd like to see other people on this list make as much effort to
communicate as I do.

I don't have time to respond in more detail right now, but I'll make an
effort to do so in the future.

At 11:39 AM 03/23/2000 +0100, Torben Sangild wrote:
>1. Ralph Dumain: You ask if there are people who thinks that there 
>is still life in "the old girl" (i.e. Adorno). Yes there are, I 
>do, and I had hoped to find some soulmates here. But also to find 
>adversaries, which seems no problem, definately not with Ralph 
>Dumain around.