Adorno’s reaction to Repressive Tolerance rested on hearsay, not reading.

Evidence

Was it surprising that Adorno, who had not read `Repressive Tolerance’ but had heard at third or fourth hand of statements made by Marcuse in confidence, should tell Horkheimer that they must take the earliest opportunity to have a serious word with Marcuse? Marcuse, Adorno wrote, seemed to be taking up a quite ruthless position, not even shrinking from the idea that all dissent should be banned, and thus saying things that were horrifying to Horkheimer and himself. Was Horkheimer not bound to feel that his policy of stalling Marcuse had been justified? — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 647

Categorization

• SHARE: A niche detail for someone deep in Frankfurt School lore: Adorno condemned the essay he never read.