Nietzsche, Godfather of Fascism? : On the Uses and Abuses of a Philosophy

Nietzsche, the Godfather of Fascism? What can Nietzsche have in common with this murderous ideology? Frequently described as the "radical aristocrat" of the spirit, Nietzsche abhorred mass culture and strove to cultivate an Übermensch endowed with exceptional mental qualities. What can such a thinker have in common with the fascistic manipulation of the masses for chauvinistic goals that crushed the autonomy of the individual? The question that lies at the heart of this collection is how Nietzsche came to acquire the deadly "honor" of being considered the philosopher of the Third Reich and whether such claims had any justification. Does it make any sense to hold him in some way responsible for the horrors of Auschwitz? The editors present a range of views that attempt to do justice to the ambiguity and richness of Nietzsche's thought. First-rate contributions by a variety of distinguished philosophers and historians explore in depth Nietzsche's attitudes toward Jews, Judaism, Christianity, anti-Semitism, and National Socialism. They interrogate Nietzsche's writings for fascist and anti-Semitic proclivities and consider how they were read by fascists who claimed Nietzsche as their intellectual godfather. There is much that is disturbingly antiegalitarian and antidemocratic in Nietzsche, and his writings on Jews are open to differing interpretations. Yet his emphasis on individualism and contempt for German nationalism and anti-Semitism put him at stark odds with Nazi ideology. The Nietzsche that emerges here is a tragic prophet of the spiritual vacuum that produced the twentieth century's totalitarian movements, the thinker who best diagnosed the pathologies of fin-de-siècle European culture. Nietzsche dared to look into the abyss of modern nihilism. This book tells us what he found. The contributors are Menahem Brinker, Daniel W. Conway, Stanley Corngold, Kurt Rudolf Fischer, Jacob Golomb, Robert C. Holub, Berel Lang, Wolfgang Müller-Lauter, Alexander Nehamas, David Ohana, Roderick Stackelberg, Mario Sznajder, Geoffrey Waite, Robert S. Wistrich, and Yirmiyahu Yovel. Publisher Description (unedited Publisher Data) Nietzsche, The Godfather Of Fascism? What Can Nietzsche Have In Common With This Murderous Ideology? Frequently Described As The Radical Aristocrat Of The Spirit, Nietzsche Abhorred Mass Culture And Strove To Cultivate An U;bermensch Endowed With Exceptional Mental Qualities. What Can Such A Thinker Have In Common With The Fascistic Manipulation Of The Masses For Chauvinistic Goals That Crushed The Autonomy Of The Individual? The Question That Lies At The Heart Of This Collection Is How Nietzsche Came To Acquire The Deadly Honor Of Being Considered The Philosopher Of The Third Reich And Whether Such Claims Had Any Justification. Does It Make Any Sense To Hold Him In Some Way Responsible For The Horrors Of Auschwitz? The Editors Present A Range Of Views That Attempt To Do Justice To The Ambiguity And Richness Of Nietzsche's Thought.^ First-rate Contributions By A Variety Of Distinguished Philosophers And Historians Explore In Depth Nietzsche's Attitudes Toward Jews, Judaism, Christianity, Anti-semitism, And National Socialism. They Interrogate Nietzsche's Writings For Fascist And Anti-semitic Proclivities And Consider How They Were Read By Fascists Who Claimed Nietzsche As Their Intellectual Godfather. There Is Much That Is Disturbingly Antiegalitarian And Antidemocratic In Nietzsche, And His Writings On Jews Are Open To Differing Interpretations. Yet His Emphasis On Individualism And Contempt For German Nationalism And Anti-semitism Put Him At Stark Odds With Nazi Ideology. The Nietzsche That Emerges Here Is A Tragic Prophet Of The Spiritual Vacuum That Produced The Twentieth Century's Totalitarian Movements, The Thinker Who Best Diagnosed The Pathologies Of Fin-de-siècle European Culture. Nietzsche Dared To Look Into The Abyss Of Modern Nihilism. This Book Tells Us What He Found.^ The Contributors Are Menahem Brinker, Daniel W. Conway, Stanley Corngold, Kurt Rudolf Fischer, Jacob Golomb, Robert C. Holub, Berel Lang, Wolfgang Müller-lauter, Alexander Nehamas, David Ohana, Roderick Stackelberg, Mario Sznajder, Geoffrey Waite, Robert S. Wistrich, And Yirmiyahu Yovel. Pt. 1. In Theory -- How To De-nazify Nietzsche's Philosophical Anthropology? / Jacob Golomb -- Misinterpretation As The Author's Responsibility (nietzsche's Fascism, For Instance) / Berel Lang -- Experiences With Nietzsche / Wolfgang Müller-lauter -- Nietzsche And Hitler / Alexander Nehamas -- Nietzsche And The Jews / Menahem Brinker -- Nietzsche Contra Wagner On The Jews / Yirmiyahu Yovel -- Between The Cross And The Swastika: A Nietzschean Perspective / Robert S. Wistrich -- Pt. 2. In Practice -- Ecce Caesar: Nietzsche's Imperial Aspirations / Daniel W. Conway -- Question Of Responsibility: Nietzsche With Hölderlin At War, 1914-1946 / Stanley Corngold, Geoffrey Waite -- Elisabeth Legend: The Cleansing Of Nietzsche And The Sullying Of His Sister / Robert C. Holub -- Nietzsche, Mussolini, And Italian Fascism / Mario Sznajder -- Nietzsche And The Fascist Dimension: The Case Of Ernst Jünger / David Ohana -- Godfather Too: Nazism As A Nietzschean Experiment / Kurt Rudolf Fischer -- Critique As Apologetics: Nolte's Interpretation Of Nietzsche / Roderick Stackelberg. Edited By Jacob Golomb And Robert S. Wistrich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [323]-332) And Index. Nietzsche, the Godfather of Fascism? What can Nietzsche have in common with this murderous ideology? Frequently described as the "radical aristocrat" of the spirit, Nietzsche abhorred mass culture and strove to cultivate an Ubermensch endowed with exceptional mental qualities. What can such a thinker have in common with the fascistic manipulation of the masses for chauvinistic goals that crushed the autonomy of the individual?The question that lies at the heart of this collection is how Nietzsche came to acquire the deadly "honor" of being considered the philosopher of the Third Reich and whether such claims had any justification. Does it make any sense to hold him in some way responsible for the horrors of Auschwitz?The editors present a range of views that attempt to do justice to the ambiguity and richness of Nietzsche's thought. First-rate contributions by a variety of distinguished philosophers and historians explore in depth Nietzsche's attitudes toward Jews, Judaism, Christianity, anti-Semitism, and National Socialism. They interrogate Nietzsche's writings for fascist and anti-Semitic proclivities and consider how they were read by fascists who claimed Nietzsche as their intellectual godfather.There is much that is disturbingly antiegalitarian and antidemocratic in Nietzsche, and his writings on Jews are open to differing interpretations. Yet his emphasis on individualism and contempt for German nationalism and anti-Semitism put him at stark odds with Nazi ideology.The Nietzsche that emerges here is a tragic prophet of the spiritual vacuum that produced the twentieth century's totalitarian movements, the thinker who best diagnosed the pathologies of fin-desiecle European culture. Nietzsche dared to look into the abyss of modern nihilism. This book tells us what he found.

Addressing the question of Nietzsche's relationship to fascism in complex ways, this is an impressive, important, and varied volume. It presents a series of morsels for the reader and is a solid addition to both the literature on Nietzsche and that on fascism.—Sander L. Gilman, University of Illinois, Chicago

The cumulative effect of these essays contributes to the discussion of the relationship between Nietzsche and fascism and between Nietzsche and anti-Semitism. This book looks at both how to read the 'nasty' parts of Nietzsche and how to read what various people who used or read Nietzsche in a potentially 'nasty' way made of him.—Tracy B. Strong, University of California, San Diego

Jonathan Ree - Times Literary Supplement

An excellent new collection of essays.

Most Nazi readings of Nietzsche's thought justify their acts of misappropriation by referring to his key notion of the will to power in terms of a violent, overpowering, and physical force, which, if used effectively and efficiently, will secure a convincing military victory and material conquest.