Translations of the Dialectic of Enlightenment

[Ralph Dumain]

Obviously, another reason to get the new edition is the notes which amplify 
and contextualize the original published text.  If H & A had to disguise 
and downplay their residual Marxism in order to evade possible consequences 
of political repression, their text could have become even more cryptic 
than otherwise intended.

OK, another question.  There's a section near the end of the book called 
"Philosophy and the Division of Labor."  Would you consider the Cummings 
translation adequate here or is the new translation an improvement here 
too?  While the individual pieces of the argument of this section are 
comprehensible, I am not 100% on the overall meaning.  Would anyone care to 
amplify on this section?

>>>---- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Claus Hansen" <clausdh@tdcspace.dk>
>>>To: <frankfurt-school@lists.village.virginia.edu>; <marcusb49@excite.com>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 4:11 PM
>>>Subject: Re: Fwd: Dialectic of Enlightenment translations
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear all
>>>
>>>I have also only read passages of the new translation but I have both and my
>>>first impression is that the new translation is a lot better than the old
>>>one
>>>which cannot surprise given the development in readings on Adorno in
>>>English since 1972 when the first translation appeared. The new edition
>>>also has a lot of extra notes that give an insight into the changes A & H
>>>made
>>>to DoE in order for them not to appear to marxist in their exile in the
>>>States.
>>>There are also a few essays that deals with DoE and its relation to the
>>>Frankfurt School development in that period.