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Monday, January 12, 2009

Leopold and Loeb

In The Rebel, Camus traces some of the aspects of Nietzschean (and Hegelian) thought and logic that may lead to the appalling political conclusions of Nazi and Communist regimes.1

Since Nietzsche's "greater concerns are personal or spiritual"2 then it may be worth exploring the more fertile ground to see where aspects of Nietzschean thought lead to appalling personal conclusions. The example that immediately comes to mind are those stupid geniuses (their IQs? 210, 160): Leopold and Loeb. Is there a book that takes on this task? Other than L&L are there other well known examples?

It's especially important for those of us who enjoy the positive aspects of Nietzschean thought to expose these negative aspects, even when they result from misinterpretations.

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[1] If Nietzsche and Hegel serve as alibis to the masters of Dachau and Karaganda [They found less philosophic models in the Prussian, Napoleonic, and Czarist police and in the British concentration camps in South Africa.], that does not condemn their entire philosophy. But it does lead to the suspicion that one aspect of their thought, or of their logic, can lead to these appalling conclusions. (The Rebel p. 137)

[2] Nietzsche's fascism (comments) - Charlie Huenemann

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Related: Hitler interprets Nietzsche (Ricky Gervais), Camus on Nietzsche