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A whole lot of misery: Adorno's negative Aristotelianism—Replies to Allen, Celikates, and O'Connor

Freyenhagen, F (2017) 'A whole lot of misery: Adorno's negative Aristotelianism—Replies to Allen, Celikates, and O'Connor.' European Journal of Philosophy, 25 (3). pp. 861-874. ISSN 0966-8373

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Abstract

Can one both be an Aristotelian in ethics and a negativist, whereby the latter involves subscribing to the view that the good cannot be known in our social context but that ethical guidance is nonetheless possible in virtue of a pluralist conception of the bad (of which this context and human history provide us ample knowledge)? Moreover, is it possible to combine Aristotelianism with a thoroughly historical outlook? I have argued that such combinations are, indeed, possible, and that we can find an example of them in Adorno's work. In this paper, I reply to three critics (Allen, Celikates and O'Connor) who cast doubt on this proposal. I also reply to other concerns they raise, regarding immanent critique, negativism, the role of social theory in Adorno's work, and the danger of being co-opted. I stress the holism of Adorno's position, and, amid some more deflationary moves, insist on the distinctiveness of the Aristotelian position that results.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Adorno; Aristotelianism; Negativism; Immanent Critique; Internal Critique
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities > Philosophy and Art History, School of
SWORD Depositor: Elements
Depositing User: Elements
Date Deposited: 21 Jun 2018 14:01
Last Modified: 06 Jan 2022 13:42
URI: http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/20819

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