In the TLS in October there has been a debate on the extent of the philosopher Martin Heidegger's Nazi-ism and how far this affected his philosophy. I tried to follow this, I tried to understand what Heidegger's philosophy amounted to. I had no success. He is acknowledged to be very hard to understand, but even sources favourable to him seemed unable to explain why he should be thought of as a great philosopher other than by mentioning the names of other philosophers. I have an innate suspicion of such obscurity (or is is obscurantism?).
Anyway, it is clear that Heidegger was a Nazi, and in more than terms of just having a party-card in order to keep his job and promotion prospects. He was an enthusiast and while that enthusiasm may not have lasted (though this is by no means clear), he was also unrepentant.
From this I conclude that if your system of philosophy, ingenious though it may be, does not provide you with the understanding to see through the intellectual and moral claptrap that was the worldview of Nazi-ism, then it is probably not worth pursuing.
Anyway, it is clear that Heidegger was a Nazi, and in more than terms of just having a party-card in order to keep his job and promotion prospects. He was an enthusiast and while that enthusiasm may not have lasted (though this is by no means clear), he was also unrepentant.
From this I conclude that if your system of philosophy, ingenious though it may be, does not provide you with the understanding to see through the intellectual and moral claptrap that was the worldview of Nazi-ism, then it is probably not worth pursuing.
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