'The Strength Even to Comprehend the Incomprehensible': Rereading Adorno in the Age of Authoritarian Resurgence.

This article critically reexamines Theodor W. Adorno's concept of "working through the past" (Aufarbeitung der Vergangenheit) as an ethical imperative following Auschwitz and as a foundational model for rebuilding democratic societies. Situating Adorno’s 1959 lecture "What Does Coming to Terms with the Past Mean?" and his 1966 lecture "Education after Auschwitz" within his broader work, the article highlights his insistence on continuous, self-reflective engagement with past atrocities that resists simplistic closure or instrumentalization. Adorno emphasizes that overcoming fascism requires transforming both subjective attitudes and the multilayered objective conditions—economic, social, cultural, and political—that enabled it, while acknowledging the inherent difficulty of fully grasping or resolving such historical trauma. The article connects Adorno’s insights to contemporary challenges posed by the resurgence of far-right and authoritarian movements, arguing that his maximalist ethical vision remains crucial for guiding transitional justice and human rights efforts amid ongoing political crises.