Date: Fri, 01 Aug 2003 20:40:45 +0200
From: Claus Hansen <clausdh-AT-tdcspace.dk>
Subject: Re: [FRA:] sociology, philosophy and art


I think it would be impossible to lump together all of the Frankfurt School 
theorists view on philosophy and its relation to the sciences and the 
division of labour in general. While Horkheimer wanted philosophy to guide 
the sciences and let philosophy synthesize their findings to a theory of 
society (as outlined in his original programme for an interdisciplinary 
research programme) Adorno saw philosophy primarily as a protest against 
the very division of labour and a (failed) attempt at restoring their unity.

Actually it is funny that you mention the 'social bases' of philosophy and 
'critical theory' because it was exactly this Adorno was trying to 
illuminate us about when he performed his immanent criticisms and tried to 
tease out the 'truth content' of various philosophical works, artworks, 
everyday phenomena. Mr Ragowski alerted our attention to the book on the 
Frankfurt School by Demirovíc called 'Der nonkonformistiches 
Intellektuelle' and while I have only read bits and pieces of the book my 
first impression of it is that it is an attempt at describing and analysing 
how the various 'truth-effects' and 'truth-regimes' of the Frankfurt school 
was effectuated by the actual praxis of Horkheimer, Adorno and the members 
of the Institute in post-war Germany. So if you are interested in the 
social bases of their particular view of philosophy and social science I 
think the Demirovíc book would be a good place to start (and of course the 
excellent history by Wiggershaus). Later this year a biography of Adorno 
will be published by Suhrkamp written by Stefan Müller-Doohm that so far as 
I can see at Amazon.com should be translated into English already sometime 
in 2004.

What are your reasons for believing that it would not be fruitful have 
these kind of discussion on the list? Being a sociologist in spe I am 
mostly interested in the sociological aspects of the Frankfurt School and 
while we have had some good discussions concerning some substantial issues 
at the list it would be very exciting to go more into detail theoretical 
issues and Adorno's likely respond to them - this would inevitably come 
across some philosophical issues as well but related to theoretical debates 
in sociology.

Claus



At 09:31 01-08-03 -0400, you wrote:



>Philosophy predates the social sciences, of course, and philosophical
>issues must be (and generally are) important in sociological discourse,
>especially in the sub-field of theory where I work.
>What kind of philosophy? And how these issues are linked to research are
>clearly controversial issues, in the field of sociology and outside.
>I do think that many of this list like to talk about philosophy as if it
>has no borders or boundaries, or professional self-interests.
>Personally, I think Randall Collins's The Sociology of Philosophy has
>very
>useful things to say about the social base of philosophy, ideas that could
>be applied to how the boundaries and borders of "critical theory"
>are created and enforced.
>A useful version of this discussion is not likely to be undertaken on this
>list (for a variety of sociological reasons, actually), so best focus on
>things that might be useful.