"Nietzsche, like Goethe, held no high opinion of the German people, and in other ways, too, the outpourings of this megalomaniacal genius differ from those of the chauvinistic German thinkers of the nineteenth century.... The Germans, he wrote in Ecce Homo, "have no conception how vile they are," and he came to the conclusion that "wheresoever Germany penetrated, she ruins culture." He thought that Christians, as much as Jews, were responsible for the "slave morality" prevalent in the world. He was never an anti-Semite"
Nothing could be farther from Hitler's Nazi beliefs!! Hitler relied upon the anti-Semitic writings of Martin Luther, and he thought the Germans were the be all and the end all! Therefore, if we are to believe Shirer...Nietzsche and Hitler were diametrically opposed on the most FUNDAMENTAL issues!
As I said in previous posts...most of the great people who cite Nietzsche as an overwhelming influence are respected for their moral and philosophical contributions to the progress of humanity. It is true that simple people are incapable of understanding the thought and the humanity of Nietzsche. And there is no doubt that idiots have abused his thought. But the fact remains that his life was a sensitive life of poetry and philosophy. There is no cruelty in his life that I am aware of. He had the integrity to turn against the German heroes such as Wagner, as he matured and developed profound thought.
Nietzsche would have despised the mindless conformity of the Nazis. Nothing could be clearer. The greatest intellectuals built upon Nietzsche's genius to create a better humanity. The fact that a small percentage of moronic misfits sometimes misappropriated his thought does not detract from his immense contribution to human thought. Shirer was a decent historian who had a modicum of college before becoming a correspondent and journalist. Certainly, he had no qualifications to interpret the philosophy of Nietzsche or any other philosopher.
Nietzsche is not to blame for Hitler. If there is a justification for the anti-Semitism of Hitler it may be found in Luther and 2000 years of Christian struggle to dominate world opinion. Shirer hinself states that anti-Semitism was not in the bailiwick of Nietzsche. Case closed! |
