Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:31:10 -0600
Subject: Re: Heidegger in Germany


Stuart,

Ott (English version): H was elected rector on April 21 (p.146).
Farias (English version): H. was elected rector on April 21(p.85).
Safranski (English version): "He [Moellendorf] called a meeting of the senate on
April 20, at which he and the entire senate announced their resignation and
proposed Martin Heidegger as Moellendorf's successor."

Your point is well taken about Heidegger's being elected rector prior to his
joining the
party on May1, 1933.

Frank

Stuart Elden wrote:

> Henk wrote:
>
> >Frank,
>
> >You are not stating my position correctly. You forget that
> >Heidegger did see racism as a necessity (cf. the
> >Koinon-papers). The Endloesung is part of the program of
> >the NSDAP since 1933. Heidegger was a member of the NSDAP
> >since 1931/1932.
>
> First, didn't Heidegger join the party AFTER he assumed the rectorship? As
> part of his politicisation/academic position, rather than the cause of it.
> I'm fairly sure about this, but I can't provide verification. I've checked
> Ott, but can't find the date immediately.
>
> Second: How do you read the passage in the Ister Hymn lectures (GA53) where
> H suggests that the modern totality of the political, and the failure to
> question the political, is not simply based "as some naive minds think, on
> the arbitrary wilfulness of dictators, but in the metaphysical essence of
> modern actuality in general" (S118)? One could read what H is saying in at
> least two ways:-
>
> 1. The totality of the political is a necessity in these times - and a good
> thing.
>
> 2. The totality of the political is a result of the modern metaphysics, the
> forgetfulness of being, and is therefore not merely due to the ontic antics
> of dictators, but the ontology of modernity. Therefore there is a much
> larger problem to be addressed.
>
> It seems - to draw a parallel with the reading of racism you gave - you
> would go for reading 1, many other on the list reading 2. On this point at
> least, 2 seems the only valid reading. And a critique of Nazism - but of its
> condition of possibility rather than (just?) its manifestation.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Best wishes
>
> Stuart
>
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