Labor Camps, Human Well-Being and «Severe Tribe» in Proclamations and Speeches of 1933–1934

Abstract

A certain «resumption» of «Heidegger’s work» related to the publication of his speeches, reports, and public statements made in 1933–1934 not only eliminates a number of questions regarding the political and ideological position (here, alas, there is no room for doubt), but also requires a revision of the conceptional components of his philosophy. Moreover, such a movement is primarily dictated by the content of these texts, which allows us to conclude that Heidegger’s completely «sincere» fascination with the ideas of national socialism overall, and the figure of Hitler in particular, leads Heidegger himself to a very distinct explication of his own philosophical position. The dramatic nature of the situation lies in the fact that this kind of explication concerns the key concepts of fundamental ontology: being, existence, nature, and truth. An analysis of the published texts shows the presence of direct racial connotations in references to nature, the identification of existence and being with people and the state, respectively. Heidegger’s concepts of «interceding domination», «unconcealment», and knowledge take on a definite connotation. This is not simply about justifying labor camps and arguments about the health of people or the «harsh tribe» already causing a specific reaction, but also about the concrete implementation of the Third Reich’s policy during the rector period, and, perhaps worst of all, about attempts to introduce the foundations of Nazism and Hitlerism into philosophy. In other words, the question of the very possibility of drawing the line between philosophy and «personal» political preferences in connection with Heidegger’s legacy is now more acute than ever.