Adorno held that critical theory resists most effectively precisely where reality seems irresistible

Evidence

According to both Adorno and the existing state of affairs, this is a fight which would be able to be most effectively waged with a critical social theory. ‘Today, precisely the overwhelming supremacy of that which now simply exists has become blindness, ideology, and what I mean is that it is up to the responsible spirit to wage resistance precisely at this site, in the sense meant by Marx when he spoke of the ruthless criticism of all that exists more than a century ago. It seems to me that the duty to do so grows proportionally to the irresistibility of what simply exists’. — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1618

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Adorno’s theory aimed at practical triumph over prevailing circumstances. — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1026; Adorno refuses to reduce existing reality to mere positivity — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1487; Adorno’s ideal analyst pushes reality to extremes so hope emerges only in darkness — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1107

Broader Connections

• Adorno refuses to reduce existing reality to mere positivity #corroborates (0.85) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1487