German Existentialism

by Martin Heidegger

"On the day of German Labor, on the day of the Community of the People, the Rector of Freiburg University, Dr. Marin Heidegger, made his official entry into the National Socialist Party." And so begins one of the most controversial philosophical texts available today. Heidegger, a German Nationalist and proud Nazi, thoroughly examines the history, the philosophy, and the rise to power of the Nazi movement in Germany. Martin Heidegger's distinguished Italian colleague, Professor Benedetto Croce, said of his German contemporary, "This man dishonors philosophy and that is an evil for politics too." Croce's severe rebuke was not singular at the time when Hitlerism was rampant over Europe. It is true that among the almost one thousand professional philosophers of Germany and Austria only very few actively opposed National Socialism. On the other hand, no one degraded his historic profession in the manner Heidegger did, by becoming a spokesman for National Socialism and attempting to mold his theories into one pattern with Hitlerism. Heidegger's contribution to the growth and development of National Socialism was immense. In this small anthology Dr. Runes endeavors to point to the utter confusion Heidegger created by drawing, for political and social application of his own existentialism metaphysics, upon the decadent and repulsive brutalization of Hitlerism. Martin Heidegger was a philosopher most known for his contributions to German phenomenological and existential thought. Heidegger was born in rural Messkirch in 1889 to Catholic parents. While studying philosophy and mathematics at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Heidegger became the assistant for philosopher Edmund Husserl. Influenced by Husserl, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche, Heidegger wrote extensively on the quality of Being, including his opus Being and Time. He served as professor of philosophy at Albert-Ludwig University and taught there during the war. In 1933, Heidegger joined the National Socialist German Worker's (or Nazi) Party and expressed his support for Hitler in several articles and speeches. After the war, his support for the Nazi party came under attack, and he was tried as a sympathizer. He was able to return to Albert-Ludwig University, however, and taught there until he retired. Heidegger continued to lecture and write until his death 1973.

Genres: Philosophy, History

60 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a German philosopher whose work is perhaps most readily associated with phenomenology and existentialism, although his thinking should be identified as part of such philosophical movements only with extreme care and qualification. His ideas have exerted a seminal influence on the development of contemporary European philosophy. They have also had an impact far beyond philosophy, for example in architectural theory (see e.g., Sharr 2007), literary criticism (see e.g., Ziarek 1989), theology (see e.g., Caputo 1993), psychotherapy (see e.g., Binswanger 1943/1964, Guignon 1993) and cognitive science (see e.g., Dreyfus 1992, 2008; Wheeler 2005; Kiverstein and Wheeler forthcoming).

Reviews

[Théo d'Or]

Dear Théo,

I hope that my letter finds you in good health, anyway, better than mine, who no longer have this existential problem for over 50 years.
Since your interest in my person as a Nazi supporter, I keep spinning in my grave, my inner peace being in a permanent trouble. I thought maybe you wonder how can you separate Heidegger the philosopher from Heidegger the Nazi sympathizer.
In my defense, I'd like to turn your attention to some of my specific works that may shed light on my philosophical endeavors, separate from my political misjudgments. Consider " The Origin of the Work of Art " - where I explore the essence of art and its capacity to set truth into work. This essay is an attempt to understand how art works at a fundamental level, how it discloses truths, and how it shapes our understanding of the world. It is here that I argue for the unique ability of à work of art to reveal the world and its being, a concept that stands in stark contrast to any form of ideological propaganda. My political entanglement with the Nazis has led many to question whether my philosophy inherently supports such an ideology. This is a legitimate concern, and one that I must adress. I must accept that my actions contributed to the legitimization of a regime that commited unspeakable atrocities, and for this, I can only offer my deepest apologies and a commitment to a continual process of self- examination and critique. As you engage with my work, I ask that you do so with a critical eye. It is important to scrutinize the ways in which my views may have intersected with, or diverged from the ideology I once endorsed. I hope that through this critical engagement, the value of my philosophical contributions can be discerned, separate from the errors of my judgment.
As gratitude, I consent to a possible parodical review of yours, hoping that it will wash away all my sins committed in an era of sad memory. I promise I won't get upset.

With a heavy heart,
Martin Heidegger

[Fnaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Workers with your hands, your soul was destroyed by the slogan "Class Warfare." To you comes now the word, Soul of Germany, awake! And you, workers with the intellect! The century of Liberalism turned the intellect into a false idol. To you, too, I say, Soul of Germany, awake! Know that in this very day God still performs miracles, and that the German soul will once more become strong. Before us stands the cathedral, a miraculous bulwark of German culture. The minister that looks down upon us should be to us a symbol and a comparison. Just as all of us here, workers with the brain and workers with the hand, have cooperated, so shall Germany become a single German cathedral, and we shall be called to labor and to build alongside one another. In this cathedral of German labor the soul of Germany shall once more find its everlasting strength and power, and so build a single magnificent Germany.'
-A speech by 'Pastor Albert' on 'The Day of Honour of German Labour', May 1st, 1933.

This section was excellent, but in terms of illustrating the missing core of Heidegger's work, there really isn't much here. He is quite generic in the speeches included by the editor, chosen, he notes, in order to prove Heidegger's committed involvement in National Socialism rather than rigging it up to his philosophical project as a whole. If you want that, try the middle sections of 'Mindfulness' (1938/9). I am yet to read 'The Event' (1936-1944), but I expect it will be useful in this discussion.

[Viji (Bookish endeavors) · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I do not doubt that scientists and technicians, artisans and craftsmen, can be accomplished in their respective fields of endeavor and yet serve an evil master. But the philosopher is not a scientist, he is not a craftsman, he is not a technician, and his only contribution to the wide community is his love of wisdom and his wisdom of love. And if such have deserted him he becomes another robot of the infernal crew of tyranny, and all his involved verbiage is just an evil breath in the wind of time.”

The introduction says it all. It is beyond me, how a man of such a clear and sharp mind as Heidegger could fall prey to this propaganda. At the same time, his instance is a warning to everyone of the dangers of fascist ideologies, that even the best of minds can fall for it. This is a warning which should especially listen to in this world of shrinking borders and minds, of a new-born xenophobia with spurts of violence against the 'outsiders' every now and then. It is a warning for us in the backdrop of the newfound nationalist uprisings and racial groupings in various parts of the world. For if we are not careful enough, the day is not far. The danger is real.

The title of the book is misleading since this book is about anything but existentialism. It dwells on Heidegger's participation in and his thoughts about Nazist ideology. It was nauseating, seeing a philosopher subject his will and mind to such a man, such an ideology. A philosopher is supposed to be one Ho rebels, trying not to conform to the existing or to take for granted the accepted beliefs. He should be one who tries to make sense of the world and man's role in it, with 'man' meaning both the collective and the individual. He should be beyond the dividing lines of race, religion and gender, for knowledge isn't limited by any of these. You can always ask, 'says who'. But, if a philosopher himself is unable to go beyond these constraints of society and mind, of what use is his preaching? It is he who should say that 'the King is naked' and thus hold a mirror to the psyche of the society.

The extra star is for my relief at having found the book readable. I opened it with a fear that my teachers had managed to build in me of Heidegger's language. Though this is not really a philosophy book, I was relieved at having read something by Heidegger without roasting my tiny brain.

[Judy]

Martin Heidegger's distinguished Italian colleague, Professor Benedetto Croce said of his German contemporary: "This man dishonors philosophy and that is an evil for politics also." "You must know the implications of the fact that eighteen million Germans belong to the German people, but not to the German state because they live beyond the state frontiers." p. 39
At his university in Frieberg (where he was the rector) in May 18, 1933, there was a Jewish-Marxist book burning. In October, 1933, the teaching licenses of Jewish teachers at Frieberg was revoked.

Apparently this book is controversial.

[Minotaurochs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple interesting speeches/articles by Heidegger in here, can flick through them in a few minutes. The rest is mostly pointless and repetitive, there is a bunch of announcements of Heidegger becoming rector and a couple of addresses by Heidegger himself which are basically repeating the same thing.

Even still, there are 2 or 3 bits worth reading from Heidegger in here, which are the longer sections so it's easy to skim through and spot them.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacking in any insight at all into Heidegger's unique contributions to philosophy, which would be important to know, I would think, in order to understand more fully the context of his allegiance with National Socialism. But an interesting snapshot of how a man of such great intellect was fooled into suspending the pursuit of truth in order to adhere to the promises of "tradition" and national pride.

[Luís Branco · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is indeed astonishing how a person with so much knowledge as Heidegger could fall in such stupidity. It is an interesting report.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not a suitable book to read in public ..