Adorno insisted theory must precede empirical research, even if research is never reached.
Evidence
I agree with you also that such an approach needs a theoretical analysis first, and might have to start definitely by an analysis of music production. It is exactly as a stronghold of theoretical analysis preceding any research that I am looking forward to your coming. On the other hand, we shall have to understand that you have to end up finally with actual research among listeners, although in many cases we might have to stop with the formulation of the theoretical problem and discussions of techniques to answer them, simply for reasons of time. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 994
Categorization
- XREF: Lazarsfeld’s eventual frustration with Adorno’s refusal to finish empirical work became a famous breach. — connects to: Adorno never abandoned the ideal of critical empirical research despite rejecting established methods — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2120; Adorno rejected empirical research criticism despite its validity — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1012; Adorno sought to repurpose empirical social research for critical theory. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1927 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- Adorno never abandoned the ideal of critical empirical research despite rejecting established methods
#corroborates(0.90) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2120 - Adorno sought to repurpose empirical social research for critical theory.
#expands(0.90) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1927 - Adorno rejected empirical research criticism despite its validity
#contradicts(0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1012 - Adorno conceived theory and empirical research as mutually constitutive via the dialectical method.
#qualifies(0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 990