Reactionary Modernism: Technology, Culture, and Politics in Weimar and the Third ReichIn a unique application of critical theory to the study of the role of ideology in politics, Jeffrey Herf explores the paradox inherent in the German fascists' rejection of the rationalism of the Enlightenment while fully embracing modern technology. He documents evidence of a cultural tradition he calls 'reactionary modernism' found in the writings of German engineers and of the major intellectuals of the. Weimar right: Ernst Juenger, Oswald Spengler, Werner Sombart, Hans Freyer, Carl Schmitt, and Martin Heidegger. The book shows how German nationalism and later National Socialism created what Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, called the 'steel-like romanticism of the twentieth century'. By associating technology with the Germans, rather than the Jews, with beautiful form rather than the formlessness of the market, and with a strong state rather than a predominance of economic values and institutions, these right-wing intellectuals reconciled Germany's strength with its romantic soul and national identity. |
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Contents
The paradox of reactionary modernism | 1 |
bourgeois antinomies reactionary | 49 |
Ernst Jüngers magical realism | 70 |
Technology and three mandarin thinkers | 109 |
technology and | 130 |
Engineers as ideologues | 152 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract aesthetic analysis anti-Semitism appeared argued attacked beauty believed blood bourgeois called capitalism capitalist century claimed conservative revolution contributed created creative crisis criticism cultural Deutsche discussion domination economic engineers Enlightenment Ernst Jünger essay Europe example existence expression Fascism forces Frankfurt Freyer Geist George German engineers German idealism Germany's hand Heidegger Hitler human Ibid idea idealism ideology important individual industrial intellectuals interests Italy Jewish Jews journal labor Left less liberalism machine Marxism mass materialism means modern technology movement National Socialism nationalist nature Nazi offered organization particular philosophy political presented problem production reactionary modernism reactionary modernists reason referred regime rejected relation remained revolutionary Right right-wing romantic romanticism Schmitt served social society Sombart soul Spengler spirit tech technical themes theory Third thought tradition turn University Weimar worker wrote York