Theodor Adorno

Theodor W. Adorno (1903–1969) was a German philosopher, sociologist, music theorist, and one of the key members of the Frankfurt School. His work is characterized by a critical approach to modern society, culture, and ideology, based on Marxist and Hegelian traditions.

Adorno, along with Max Horkheimer, developed the concept of "critical theory" and co-authored the important work Dialectics of Enlightenment (1947), in which they explored how Enlightenment thought degenerated into totalitarianism. He was strongly engaged in the critique of mass culture, capitalism, and rationalization, arguing that the culture industry produces passive and conformist masses.

His most important works include:

• Minima Moralia (1951)
• Negative Dialectics (1966)
• Aesthetic Theory (unfinished, published posthumously in 1970)
• Dialectic of Enlightenment (with Horkheimer)

Adorno was also a significant music analyst, writing on Beethoven, Wagner, and Schönberg. He lectured in Germany and the United States, leaving a deep mark on the humanities and social sciences.