Feb 20, 2023·edited Feb 20, 2023Liked by epimetheus
Critical theory might not be totalitarian in its nature, but it is authoritarian in its rejection of facts before the voice of the interpreter of said facts. As an academic, how often have you heard yourself, colleagues or students argue that something is True based on it having been said by [Named Authority] in political/social science/humanities?
"As [insert name here] proved in his/hers [name of text], ..."
Because what has happened from 1990 to today is that "argued" has been replaced with "proved" in sentences such as the preceding one. If Adorno or Foucault or Habermas or Schmidt says that (made-up quote) "The economic structure of society mimics the structure of the family in that the one possessoing the most capacity for violence, the Father; thus it follows that in order to establish greater economic equlity and fair distribution of goods, the Father must be toppled from his pedestal as the definer of things.", well that doesn't make it true. A logical argument is logical, not true, unless all the premises can be proven true (which they can't in my made-up example).
But now, an argument is either true or false depending on which authority voices it and if the authority does so according to dogma.
A thought just struck me re: the fervour with which germans (as it appears) embraces attacking Russia via sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
This may well be reaching (I hope it is so!) but consider the self-flagellation expected and demanded of germans, by foreigners as well as themselves, for the last 50+ years. Even or especially from germans whose parents weren't born during the nazi era; their only crime being born a german.
Greece's ridiculous demands of "reparations", regular as clockwork whenever they yet again fail to cleanup their own corruption and incompetence is but one example of how other nations plays along with this.
Is it really unreasonable to assume (here comes the reaching part) that there is a deep undercurrent of resentiment and revanchism among the germans, due to the last 50+ years of frankly deeply unfair conditioning? While the Holocaust and the rest of it was pure terror, it was far from even being in the top ten of such atrocities historically speaking. The Mongol Wars are claimed to have cause 150 000 000 deaths in their time. Are we then to treat mongols the same today? What about how the swedish armies burned their way from Östersjön to the Alps during the 30 Years War? Was it 30% of the population that was killed in someparts of what is Germany and Poland today? "Palestine has become a widow for Egypt"?
Could it be that the german politicians in their fervour to curry favour with their american pay-masters and leash-holders have awakened something in their population, something that now senses that the bars of the cage is creaking more and more?
Too wild a speculation, or is there something to it?
Those criticizing Habermas have lost their values if they ever had any. They are just members of a tribe and stand for nothing of substance.
Thanks for taking the time to write and expose what is taking place. I thought you might find the following video of a segment of the Jimmy Dore show interesting/depressing. It is happening everywhere
I thank you deeply for continuing to share with us all. I feel it’s imperative to me, and us all, to at least try to see/understand what is going on in the wider contexts (and not just the countries I can access). Without your brave voice much of mainland Europe would be a blank hole for me. Tough topics and pieces for sure... therefore even more needed and more gratitude for the work you do! I too have made my choice.
I think Neuengamme also had 2G rules. I was going to visit with my daughter. Maybe I was just too demoralized to even check at the time, but I vaguely remember reading it.
Thanks for this post. It must of cost a great deal of mental anguish.
It is extremely disturbing and disheartening to watch the Germans succumb once again to groupthink and blind war-mongering, despite DECADES of so-called "Aufarbeitung".
Critical theory might not be totalitarian in its nature, but it is authoritarian in its rejection of facts before the voice of the interpreter of said facts. As an academic, how often have you heard yourself, colleagues or students argue that something is True based on it having been said by [Named Authority] in political/social science/humanities?
"As [insert name here] proved in his/hers [name of text], ..."
Because what has happened from 1990 to today is that "argued" has been replaced with "proved" in sentences such as the preceding one. If Adorno or Foucault or Habermas or Schmidt says that (made-up quote) "The economic structure of society mimics the structure of the family in that the one possessoing the most capacity for violence, the Father; thus it follows that in order to establish greater economic equlity and fair distribution of goods, the Father must be toppled from his pedestal as the definer of things.", well that doesn't make it true. A logical argument is logical, not true, unless all the premises can be proven true (which they can't in my made-up example).
But now, an argument is either true or false depending on which authority voices it and if the authority does so according to dogma.
Which is authoritarianism is in its purest form.
An uncomfortable sense of foreboding 😞
A thought just struck me re: the fervour with which germans (as it appears) embraces attacking Russia via sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
This may well be reaching (I hope it is so!) but consider the self-flagellation expected and demanded of germans, by foreigners as well as themselves, for the last 50+ years. Even or especially from germans whose parents weren't born during the nazi era; their only crime being born a german.
Greece's ridiculous demands of "reparations", regular as clockwork whenever they yet again fail to cleanup their own corruption and incompetence is but one example of how other nations plays along with this.
Is it really unreasonable to assume (here comes the reaching part) that there is a deep undercurrent of resentiment and revanchism among the germans, due to the last 50+ years of frankly deeply unfair conditioning? While the Holocaust and the rest of it was pure terror, it was far from even being in the top ten of such atrocities historically speaking. The Mongol Wars are claimed to have cause 150 000 000 deaths in their time. Are we then to treat mongols the same today? What about how the swedish armies burned their way from Östersjön to the Alps during the 30 Years War? Was it 30% of the population that was killed in someparts of what is Germany and Poland today? "Palestine has become a widow for Egypt"?
Could it be that the german politicians in their fervour to curry favour with their american pay-masters and leash-holders have awakened something in their population, something that now senses that the bars of the cage is creaking more and more?
Too wild a speculation, or is there something to it?
Those criticizing Habermas have lost their values if they ever had any. They are just members of a tribe and stand for nothing of substance.
Thanks for taking the time to write and expose what is taking place. I thought you might find the following video of a segment of the Jimmy Dore show interesting/depressing. It is happening everywhere
https://rumble.com/v29ys04-u.s.-official-loves-ukraine-neo-nazi-azov-battalion.html
I thank you deeply for continuing to share with us all. I feel it’s imperative to me, and us all, to at least try to see/understand what is going on in the wider contexts (and not just the countries I can access). Without your brave voice much of mainland Europe would be a blank hole for me. Tough topics and pieces for sure... therefore even more needed and more gratitude for the work you do! I too have made my choice.
Your article is really weighing heavy on my heart. Not the greatest of feelings, but thank you nonetheless.
I have since decided to go see Schwarzer (who I always hated) and Wagenknecht on Saturday and I am trying to convince as many people as I can to go.
I think Neuengamme also had 2G rules. I was going to visit with my daughter. Maybe I was just too demoralized to even check at the time, but I vaguely remember reading it.
Thanks for this post. It must of cost a great deal of mental anguish.
It is extremely disturbing and disheartening to watch the Germans succumb once again to groupthink and blind war-mongering, despite DECADES of so-called "Aufarbeitung".