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.
AcknowledgementsPrefacePart I: Masters of Social ScienceIntroduction to Part I1 Marx: The Romance of RevolutionSection I—History as DramaSection II—Political RepresentationSection III—Enter WeberSection IV—Representation of Representation2 Weber: The State, Science, and the UniversitySection I—Anticipations of TotalitarianismSection II—History and Theory of the StateSection III—Science and Technology3 Freud and Elias: The Civilizing ProcessSection I—Freud's Discontents with CivilizationSection II—Elias' MannersSection III—Elias' StatePart II: Untergangsters of History and PhilosophyIntroduction to Part II 1034 Spengler: Cultural Pessimism and Anti-SemitismSection I—Kultur and ZivilizationSection II—The Invention of the MagianSection III—Caesar ex Machina5 Heidegger and Wittgenstein: Two Philosophers at Odds and EvensSection I—Heidegger, Wittgenstein, and SpenglerSection II—Heidegger, Wittgenstein, and Anti-SemitismSection III—Wittgenstein on Language and MindSection IV—Wittgenstein on MathematicsSection V—Heidegger's Seinsgeschichte6 Hannah Arendt: The Politics of Metaphysical DespairSection I—Arendt and HeideggerSection II—Arendt on TotalitarianismPart III: Critics of Culture, Society, and ScienceIntroduction to Part III7 Nietzsche: The Prophet of NihilismSection I—Eschatology of HistorySection II—The Will to PowerSection III—Truth, Knowledge, and Reason as Power8 Foucault: Death and Resurrection of the SubjectSection I—Foucault and NietzscheSection II—Foucault and the Death of ManEpilogueIndex
"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
