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Theodor AdornoGerman philosopher, sociologist and musicologist.
Date of Birth: 11.09.1903
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Theodor Adorno: A German Intellectual
- Musical Journey and Disillusionment
- Academic Dismissal and Emigration
- Collaboration with Horkheimer
- Post-War Intellectual Work
- Student Unrest and Retirement
Theodor Adorno: A German Intellectual
Early Life and EducationTheodor Ludwig Adorno was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 11, 1903. He was the only child of Oscar Alexander Wiesengrund, a wealthy wine merchant, and Maria Barbara Calvelli-Adorno, a singer. Adorno adopted his mother's maiden name as his own in the 1930s after becoming a naturalized American citizen.
Growing up, Adorno's intellectual development was influenced by his tutor Agatha and his studies of piano and philosophy, particularly Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason." He attended the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gymnasium until the age of 17, graduating as valedictorian.
Adorno pursued higher education at the University of Frankfurt, where he studied philosophy, musicology, psychology, and sociology. During his time at university, he met several future collaborators, including Max Horkheimer and Walter Benjamin. He also contributed critical music articles while still a student, but his aspirations as a composer remained his primary focus.
Musical Journey and Disillusionment
In 1925, Adorno embarked on a journey to Vienna to study composition under Arnold Schoenberg. He became enthralled with atonalism, a revolutionary musical style. However, his experimental music failed to resonate with audiences, leading him to abandon composition and return to criticism and sociology.
Academic Dismissal and Emigration
Upon his return to Frankfurt, Adorno faced further setbacks. His doctoral dissertation was rejected by his supervisor, and he was denied the right to lecture for three years. In 1933, the rise of the Nazi regime deprived him of his teaching license due to his non-Aryan heritage.
Forced to leave Germany, Adorno first visited New York City in 1937. Attracted by its intellectual climate, he decided to emigrate. The Institute for Social Research offered him a contract, and he later established connections with Columbia University and the "Radio Project."
Collaboration with Horkheimer
Adorno worked closely with Max Horkheimer, forming a partnership that would shape his future research. Together, they relocated to Los Angeles in 1941.
Post-War Intellectual Work
After World War II, Adorno permanently ceased composing music. He developed a "new philosophy of music" but gradually abandoned this pursuit as well. In 1947, he wrote the seminal essay "Wagner, Nietzsche and Hitler," initiating a series of works on the psychology of fascism. His "The Authoritarian Personality" significantly contributed to the theory of "qualitative interpretations" in psychology.
Adorno returned to Germany in 1951 and, with Horkheimer's support, became a professor in Frankfurt. He balanced his academic work with administrative responsibilities, playing a significant role in shaping the university.
Student Unrest and Retirement
In the late 1960s, student activism and political unrest spread through German universities. Adorno became embroiled in the conflict, prompting him to take a temporary leave of absence and travel to Switzerland with his wife.
Ignoring medical advice, Adorno attempted to climb a 3,000-meter mountain, which severely compromised his heart health. On August 6, 1969, Theodor Adorno passed away from a heart attack.
