Amidst the vogue enjoyed by existentialism and positivism in early 20th-century Europe, Adorno advanced a dialectical conception of natural history that critiqued the twin temptations of ontology and empiricism through studies of Søren Kierkegaard and Edmund Husserl. As a classically trained pianist whose sympathies with the twelve-tone technique of Arnold Schoenberg resulted in his studying composition with Alban Berg of the Second Viennese School, Adorno's commitment to avant-garde music formed the backdrop of his subsequent writings and led to his collaboration with Thomas Mann on the latter's novel Doctor Faustus (1947), while the two men lived in California as exiles during the Second World War. Working for the newly relocated Institute for Social Research, Adorno collaborated on influential studies of authoritarianism, antisemitism, and propaganda that would later serve as models for sociological studies the institute carried out in post-war Germany.
amiDSt tHe voGUe EnjoyeD by exIStEnTialIsm and posItivisM In EarLY 20tH-cEntURy euroPE, adorNo aDvANcED a dialeCticAL ConcePTiOn Of natuRAL history THat critiqued tHe Twin teMptaTionS of ontology And EMpiRicIsm throUgh studiES of sørEn kierKegAard anD eDmunD hUsSErl. As A clAsSIcALly traineD piaNist whose SympathiES With THe tWELve-tonE technIque oF arnolD scHoEnBerG ResuLted In hIs sTudyiNg compositiOn with Alban BERg Of thE secOnd ViennESe scHool, ADorno'S CommiTmEnT to aVant-garde musIC foRmED tHe bacKDrop of his SubseQuent writinGs aNd lEd to his collaboratiON wiTh thomas maNn oN the latter'S Novel doctOR FAustUs (1947), WHiLE The TwO men LIVed In caLIFornIa AS exiles dURing THE seconD WorLd WAR. woRking For THE Newly ReloCaTeD iNsTItuTe fOr social ReseARch, adornO CollAboRateD on inflUENtiaL studIes of authoRitArIANiSm, aNtIsEmItism, aNd PropagaNDa THAT would lAteR Serve aS ModElS For soCiOlOgical stuDieS the iNsTitUte carrieD out in PoSt-WAr geRmanY.