Saturday, August 20, 2011
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The Shadow of Heidegger
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The Shadow of Heidegger
In January 1933 Hitler assumed power.
The 1st of May Heidegger joined the party. Many eulogized the choice of that day: that of labor; a festive day for the Führer's Germany.
Shortly later he was appointed Rektor of Freiburg University.
I don't know if you've noticed. I've never told you if I was a member of the party. No, Martin, I was not. That affiliation happened after an event that was, for me, indisputable, that had the strength of a divine mandate, and perhaps it was. That event was the speech Heidegger gave in May of 1933.
The rectorial address.
Labels: The Shadow of Heidegger
¶ 5:36 AM
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"Ernst Jünger’s totalitarian thinking in Der Arbeiter and especially his metaphysics of the Gestalt of the worker had considerable influence on Martin Heidegger at the beginning of the 1930s, when National Socialism came to power in Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.
"At this time, Heidegger had placed his hopes in and engaged with the National Socialist movement, and in this context, shortly after he resigned as Rector of Freiburg University, gave two short speeches to foreign students at the university which are published as No. 155 Die deutsche Universität, Zwei Vorträge in den Ausländerkursen der Freiburger Universität, 15. und 16. August 1934 (The German University: Two lectures given in the courses for foreign students at Freiburg University) in the Gesamtausgabe Band 16 pp. 285ff. It is an interesting, revealing piece, somewhat different in character from Heidegger’s notorious speech on assuming the rectorship of Freiburg University in 1933, Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universität (The Self-Assertion of the German University). No. 155 could be criticized on details, but that would be unfair because it is so short and aims only at giving foreign students an overview. So I will concentrate on the essentials. To say it straight out: Heidegger is under a massive delusion with regard to his hopes of reshaping and reasserting (Selbstbehauptung) the German university in a reconstitution of the German spirit. And this delusion does not concern primarily Heidegger having pinned his hopes on Adolf Hitler (GA16:302), but for deeper, essential philosophical reasons that have to be worked out right down into the ontological depths."—Michael Elldred, Social Ontology, pp 626-27.
"At this time, Heidegger had placed his hopes in and engaged with the National Socialist movement, and in this context, shortly after he resigned as Rector of Freiburg University, gave two short speeches to foreign students at the university which are published as No. 155 Die deutsche Universität, Zwei Vorträge in den Ausländerkursen der Freiburger Universität, 15. und 16. August 1934 (The German University: Two lectures given in the courses for foreign students at Freiburg University) in the Gesamtausgabe Band 16 pp. 285ff. It is an interesting, revealing piece, somewhat different in character from Heidegger’s notorious speech on assuming the rectorship of Freiburg University in 1933, Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universität (The Self-Assertion of the German University). No. 155 could be criticized on details, but that would be unfair because it is so short and aims only at giving foreign students an overview. So I will concentrate on the essentials. To say it straight out: Heidegger is under a massive delusion with regard to his hopes of reshaping and reasserting (Selbstbehauptung) the German university in a reconstitution of the German spirit. And this delusion does not concern primarily Heidegger having pinned his hopes on Adolf Hitler (GA16:302), but for deeper, essential philosophical reasons that have to be worked out right down into the ontological depths."—Michael Elldred, Social Ontology, pp 626-27.
I was unaware of the Die deutsche Universität lectures. I tracked down the contents of GA 16 and added them.
"deeper, essential philosophical reasons that have to be worked out right down into the ontological depths"
This is what I expect MH is referring to a year later when he goes on about the "inner truth"; see comments here.
"deeper, essential philosophical reasons that have to be worked out right down into the ontological depths"
This is what I expect MH is referring to a year later when he goes on about the "inner truth"; see comments here.
Bavarians still love their parades--on about any sunday in the "Altstadt" some group will be marching--usually after church-- in their lederhosen and the alpine hats. .Then to beer, and a brass band oom pah pah-ing. Sort of...elegant in some way.
Is that the Master behind the two rectors in front? serious as f**k.
Is that the Master behind the two rectors in front? serious as f**k.
One qualification until closer study of Eldred's Social Ontology:
His remarks about MH seem to lean heavily on the assertion that MH, at this time, can be closely identified with Junger, particularly as MH did not supply a later more nuanced political ontology than is represented in the two lectures referred to.
Since Junger, to the best of my knowledge, unlikely referred to MH's ontology, which did not "turn" until after the Junger work, it is not readily apparent how MH's remarks to the visitors ought to be interpreted, without at least some suspicion that Eldred's interpretation assumes the "turn."
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His remarks about MH seem to lean heavily on the assertion that MH, at this time, can be closely identified with Junger, particularly as MH did not supply a later more nuanced political ontology than is represented in the two lectures referred to.
Since Junger, to the best of my knowledge, unlikely referred to MH's ontology, which did not "turn" until after the Junger work, it is not readily apparent how MH's remarks to the visitors ought to be interpreted, without at least some suspicion that Eldred's interpretation assumes the "turn."
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