New Books Network Dag Nikolaus Hasse, "What Is European? On Overcoming Colonial and Romantic Modes of Thought" (Amsterdam UP, 2025)
Nov 11, 2025
Dag Nikolaus Hasse, a philosophy professor at the University of Würzburg, delves into the complexities of European identity in his thought-provoking discourse. He challenges traditional views of Europe, arguing they often exclude key cultural traditions and promote colonial arrogance. Hasse highlights historic multiethnic cities like Cordoba and Constantinople, advocating for an inclusive, decolonized vision of Europe. He emphasizes emotional detachment from elitist cultural definitions and calls for a civic obligation-based unity over cultural loyalty. Aiming for a broader understanding, he critiques the mythic foundations of European thought.
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Two Dominant Myths Of Europe
- Two dominant modern concepts shape Europe's self-definition: a colonial Enlightenment view and a Romantic Greco-Christian view.
- Dag Nikolaus Hasse argues we should replace them with a sober geographical, historically precise concept of Europe.
Classic Images Produce Tunnel Vision
- Standard images (Acropolis, Bastille) create an exclusionary, midwestern European focus.
- Hasse shows this viewpoint erases Muslim, Orthodox, Eastern European, and other continental traditions.
Europe As Identity Is Modern
- 'Europe' as a collective identity is a relatively late invention that rose in the 17th century.
- In medieval thought Asia often outranked Europe; the modern idea of Europe's superiority grew with early modernity and colonialism.
