Adorno and the Question of Theology: Religion and Reason Beyond Foundations

(Hardback)

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Adorno and the Question of Theology: Beyond Foundations and the Future of Reason offers a groundbreaking reappraisal of Theodor W. Adornos philosophy by examining the critical function of his theological language. Rather than signalling a theological position or rhetorical flourish, this language exemplifies Adornos nonfoundational method of critique. At the center of this approach is the concept of constellation, a mode of thought that brings concepts into relation without subsuming them under a fixed system, allowing for reflection, judgment, and ethical responsiveness in the absence of ultimate grounds.

Theological language, far from ornamental, emerges as the premier model in Adornos work for thinking critically beyond the given. Through close readings of Dialectic of Enlightenment, Negative Dialectics, and Aesthetic Theory, the book shows how Adorno reconfigures both reason and theology to address the fragmentation of modern life. It guides readers out of long-standing impasses in Adorno scholarship and offers new orientation for contemporary critical theory, political thought, and philosophy of religion. Written with philosophical precision and clarity, this study makes the case for Adornos continued relevance and articulates a vision of critique capable of addressing ethical pluralism amid the urgent challenges of our time.

Accessible to newcomers and illuminating for specialists, this book offers both an introduction to Adornos comprehensive philosophy and a path beyond enduring paradoxes in his reception.

Author Bio

Rachel R. Rosner is currently a Junior Fellow at The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute.