When sociology must comprehend the incomprehensible: interpretation of Weber and Durkheim in the sociology of Theodor W. Adorno

This article examines Theodor W. Adorno's sociology, focusing on his concept of society and its relation to sociological interpretation. Adorno views society as the fundamental concept of sociology, theorizing about post-liberal capitalism through the concept of the 'exchange society' – an antagonistic totality reproducing itself through the suffering of individuals. The article analyzes Adorno's engagement with Durkheim's sociology of social facts and Weber's comprehensive sociology, particularly regarding the comprehensibility or incomprehensibility of society. This analysis reveals Adorno's diagnostic perspective on capitalist society as simultaneously rational and irrational, and his approach to interpreting specific social phenomena. The article further explores Adorno's distinctive engagement with classical sociological texts and concepts, arguing that his contributions arise from an immanent critique of the sociological tradition.

Joan Gallego Monzó