The irrationality of society did not justify abandoning dialectical theory

Evidence

But it could similarly be objected to Adorno’s version that the impossibility of viewing a now more irrational society as a consistent system', and of taking it at a word it no longer speaks itself’, did not provide sufficient grounds for concluding that a dialectical theory of society was impossible. It was clearly their uncertainty about their own position as regards the much-vaunted theory of society that made Horkheimer and Adorno omit everything that went beyond the dry sentences that opened the preface. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2396

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Horkheimer’s lifelong dialectics project opposed both scientism and irrationalist metaphysics — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 726; An irrational social whole cannot be grasped by a rational, consistent theory. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2390; Horkheimer blamed society’s irrational structure for the retreat from systematic theory — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2388 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Prejudiced rationalizations can be socially validated ideology rather than irrationality #expands (0.75)
• Instrumental rationality’s dominance results from system-lifeworld uncoupling, not from reason’s inherent dialectic. #expands (0.75) — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 395
• Negative dialectics rejects systematic progression in favor of releasing the non-identical #expands (0.70) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2545
• Modernity’s self-image as rational depends on denying its own tacit metaphysics #expands (0.70)