"Nietzsche and Ernst Jünger: From nihilism to totalitarianism"

by Ohana, David (1989)

Abstract

The aesthetic-nihilistic revolution in western culture initiated by Nietzsche in the nineteenth century was transformed by Ernst Jtinger into a modern vision of technology and a new political pattern of totalitarian nihilism. Over and above 'nihilism'and 'totalitarianism' as such …

Key Passage

In the Feschtschrift for Junger’s sixtieth birthday, Heidegger wrote: ‘Your work Der Arbeiter (1932) provides a description of European nihilism in the stage which succeeded the First World War. “Die totale Mobilmachung” (1930) is derived from your study; Der Arbeiter belongs to the stage of active nihilism’.20 Heidegger connected Junger’s modern technological vision with Nietzsche’s metaphysics. As he said: ‘The being in its entirety appears to you within the light and shade of the will-to-power, which Nietzsche interpreted as a doctrine of values’. (p.754)

Keywords

Nietzsche, Jünger, Nihilism, Totalitarianism, Heidegger, Political Theory, Technology, Revolution

Themes

On Jünger

Links to Reference

• https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-6599(89)90263-5
• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0191-6599(89)90263-5
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/0191-6599(89)90263-5?casa_token=ITUyR4KoXdQAAAAA:6dHaZnwrnXvs7pNyzj9RtiTovfe9fPx45DgKwYD7nA7Typ4i14L8nPhhLgu1WHAN90XKKoyErRVkag

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