1st Edition

The Tragedy of European Civilization Towards an Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century

By Harry Redner Copyright 2015
    282 Pages
    by Routledge

    282 Pages
    by Routledge

    The tragedy of European civilization is a protracted historical event spanning the twentieth century and in many ways is ongoing. During this time some of the greatest modern thinkers were active, producing works that both reflected what was happening in history and contributed towards shaping it. This work is a critique of their ideas. Harry Redner establishes where and how they went wrong, in some cases with apocalyptic consequences for Europe and the world.

    The great intellectuals of the age, at once philosophers, sociologists, political theorists, historians and much else besides, include Marx, Weber, Freud, Elias, Spengler, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Arendt, Nietzsche, and Foucault. All of them had a historical impact, even if only in molding academic disciplines and shaping of public opinion, as was the case with the philosophers Wittgenstein and Arendt.

    This book explores the close links between anti-Semitism and cultural pessimism and the relation between psychology and sociology. Other themes range from the history and theory of the state, to the misconception of language and power. Suitable for students of sociology, philosophy, political theory, history, and cultural studies, this brilliant exploration of our civilization and its tragedies will also be of interest to intellectual general readers.

    Acknowledgements

    Preface

    Part I: Masters of Social Science

    Introduction to Part I

    1 Marx: The Romance of Revolution
    Section I—History as Drama
    Section II—Political Representation
    Section III—Enter Weber
    Section IV—Representation of Representation

    2 Weber: The State, Science, and the University
    Section I—Anticipations of Totalitarianism
    Section II—History and Theory of the State
    Section III—Science and Technology

    3 Freud and Elias: The Civilizing Process
    Section I—Freud's Discontents with Civilization
    Section II—Elias' Manners
    Section III—Elias' State

    Part II: Untergangsters of History and Philosophy

    Introduction to Part II 103

    4 Spengler: Cultural Pessimism and Anti-Semitism
    Section I—Kultur and Zivilization
    Section II—The Invention of the Magian
    Section III—Caesar ex Machina

    5 Heidegger and Wittgenstein: Two Philosophers at Odds and Evens
    Section I—Heidegger, Wittgenstein, and Spengler
    Section II—Heidegger, Wittgenstein, and Anti-Semitism
    Section III—Wittgenstein on Language and Mind
    Section IV—Wittgenstein on Mathematics
    Section V—Heidegger's Seinsgeschichte

    6 Hannah Arendt: The Politics of Metaphysical Despair
    Section I—Arendt and Heidegger
    Section II—Arendt on Totalitarianism

    Part III: Critics of Culture, Society, and Science

    Introduction to Part III

    7 Nietzsche: The Prophet of Nihilism
    Section I—Eschatology of History
    Section II—The Will to Power
    Section III—Truth, Knowledge, and Reason as Power

    8 Foucault: Death and Resurrection of the Subject
    Section I—Foucault and Nietzsche
    Section II—Foucault and the Death of Man

    Epilogue

    Index

    Biography

    Harry Redner

    "If one puts this book in the context of the full four-volume study, it amounts to an extraordinary achievement, involving years of reading and reflection and covering an enormous amount of ground." - Professor Krishan Kumar, University of Virginia, USA