Politics

Principled anti-Nazism [Section 41 of Nietzsche and the Nazis]

4 Comments / History, Philosophy, Philosophy of History, Politics /

[This is Section 41 of Nietzsche and the Nazis.] 41. Principled anti-Nazism Philosophically and politically, the Nazis stood for five major principles: They stood for collectivism, for instinct and passion, for war and conflict, for authoritarianism, and for socialism. National Socialist Principles: Collectivism Instinct, passion, “blood” War and zero-sum conflict Authoritarianism Socialism That means we […]

Principled anti-Nazism [Section 41 of Nietzsche and the Nazis] Read More »

1789’s importance

Leave a Comment / History, History of Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics /

While the world watched France’s revolution, an equally important cultural phenomenon was occurring across the Rhine: “In the year 1789 … nothing else was talked of in Germany but the philosophy of Kant, about which were poured forth in abundance commentaries, chrestomathies, interpretations, estimates, apologies, and so forth.” That’s Heinrich Heine, who also wrote, “Our

1789’s importance Read More »

Instinct, passion, and anti-reason

2 Comments / History, Philosophy, Philosophy of History, Politics /

[This is Section 36 of Nietzsche and the Nazis.] 36. Instinct, passion, and anti-reason Hitler was fond of saying, in private, “What luck that men do not think.” Another significant point of agreement exists between Nietzsche and the Nazis: Both agree that the great conflicts will not be solved rationally, through the processes of discussion,

Instinct, passion, and anti-reason Read More »

On Judaism and Christianity: opposite or identical?

2 Comments / Ethics, History, Philosophy, Philosophy of History, Politics /

[This is Section 32 of Nietzsche and the Nazis.] 32. On Judaism and Christianity: opposite or identical? One more key difference between Nietzsche and the Nazis is important, and that is their views on Christianity. Nietzsche consistently states that Judaism and Christianity are allies, both stemming from the same source, both advocating a religious ethic

On Judaism and Christianity: opposite or identical? Read More »

APEE panel on the ethics of the financial crisis

2 Comments / Business Ethics, Economics, Politics /

At this year’s APEE conference, I am chairing a session on “Ethics and the Financial Crisis.” The rationale for the session: Many conferences and debates are focusing on the economics and politics of the crisis, but much less attention is being focused on the core ethics issues involved. Here are the participants and the titles

APEE panel on the ethics of the financial crisis Read More »

On anti-Semitism: valid or disgusting?

Leave a Comment / History, Philosophy, Philosophy of History, Politics, Religion /

[This is Section 30 of Nietzsche and the Nazis.] 30. On anti-Semitism: valid or disgusting? The most repulsive sign of Germany’s decline, Nietzsche writes—and this may be initially surprising—is its hatred of the Jews, its virulent and almost-irrational anti-Semitism. Nietzsche, we know, has said some harsh things about the Jews—but again, that is a set

On anti-Semitism: valid or disgusting? Read More »