Abstract

How should we read a philosophical text? In this article I'll present the truth concepts of Martin Heidegger and Theodor W. Adorno, focusing on the contradiction of describing a «new truth» while simultaneously criticizing the premises of a Western way of thinking. While «truth» traditionally tends to be regarded as correspondence and correctness, Heidegger and Adorno search to present a concept of truth which exceeds the habitual forms of understanding. Both Heidegger and Adorno relate «truth» to art. According to Adorno art has a privileged position when it comes to expressing truth. By being a rational construction meanwhile lacking an instrumental purpose, art is able to criticize rationality itself. Heidegger describes a «battle» between the opening of a «world» and the closing of the «earth», which is posed in the work of art and which reflects the basic character of existence itself. How do Heidegger’s and Adorno’s writing reflect their own truth concepts? In the end Adorno’s way of writing will in itself reveal his attitude towards truth. The question about what can be said and in which way, necessarily arises, and will be discussed along in this article.