Metaphysics

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This volume presents Adorno's lectures on metaphysics in English for the first time, offering a unique introduction to both metaphysics and Adorno's intellectual perspective as articulated in Negative Dialectics. Adorno defines metaphysics through a central tension between concepts and immediate facts, tracing this dualism back to Aristotle, whom he regards as the founder of metaphysics. In Aristotle, this tension manifests as an unresolved conflict between form and matter, a split that Adorno interprets as a continuous thread throughout metaphysical history. He finds this tension resolved in the Hegelian dialectic. Furthermore, Adorno identifies a critical dichotomy within metaphysics: while it challenges belief in transcendental realms through thought, it simultaneously attempts to affirm belief in a reality beyond the empirical. This ambiguity, according to Adorno, is what lends the metaphysical tradition its significance. The lectures primarily focus on a critical examination of Aristotle's thought and its inherent ambiguities. In his later discussions, Adorno shifts to the relevance of metaphysics in contemporary contexts, particularly post-Holocaust, suggesting that 'metaphysical experiences' offer a fragile refuge for humane truth. This volume is essential for those interested in Adorno's work and serves as a valuable resource for philosophy and social theory scholars.