Jackson, Gregory David
(2019)
Heidegger, Holderlin, Hitler: Evaluating the Proximity of Heidegger's Philosophy to National Socialism Through the Significance of Poetry for His Concept of Truth, 1927-1937.
PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Abstract
This thesis evaluates the proximity of Heidegger’s philosophy to National Socialism
by exploring the significance of his thesis on the work of art in the developments of
his concept of truth throughout the 1930s. During this time, two major developments
emerged in Heidegger’s concept of truth. First, he emphasises the significance of
‘concealment’. He gives this the name both ‘untruth’ and ‘earth’ and believes that it is
the ‘essence’ of truth. Then, he argues that the work of art has a crucial role in the
disclosure of truth, for the work of art discloses the concealed ‘as’ concealed. From at
least 1931, Heidegger was also a supporter of the growing National Socialist
movement in Germany. This study argues that Heidegger’s support of the National
Socialists has its roots within his philosophy and particularly in his understanding of
the essence of truth. This connection is deepened as the National Socialist movement
takes control of the state and Heidegger’s project gains increased focus on the
problem of nihilism and the destiny of the German nation. Further, this study argues
that although Heidegger’s introduction of the work of art attempts to address the
limitations that he saw in the movement, the significance of art attempts to achieve
what he had hoped the National Socialist revolution would, namely an overcoming of
nihilism and transition to the ‘other beginning’ of Western thought. Regardless, the
philosophical problems at the roots of his support survive its migration to his
reflections on art. By exploring the significance of the work of art in the development
of his concept of truth in the context of his support of the movement, this thesis
illuminates certain limitations of Heidegger’s thought that left his thinking open to
something like National Socialism.
| Item Type: |
Thesis
(PhD)
|
| Keywords: |
Heidegger; Holderlin; Hitler; Evaluating; Proximity; Heidegger's Philosophy; National Socialism; Poetry; Concept of Truth; 1927-1937; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > Philosophy |
| Item ID: |
15543 |
| Depositing User: |
IR eTheses
|
| Date Deposited: |
22 Feb 2022 11:40 |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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