Varn Vlog The Fascist Foundations of Heideggerian Thought: A Marxist Critique with Colin Bodayle
May 12, 2025
In a thought-provoking discussion, Colin Bodayle, a doctoral student at Villanova University specializing in Marx and Heidegger, reveals the disturbing links between Martin Heidegger's philosophy and fascism. He critiques how Heidegger’s concepts of authenticity and Dasein fundamentally support a fascist worldview. The conversation dives into the selective editing of Heidegger's manuscripts, the mystification around his Nazi past, and explores connections between German thinkers and far-right ideologies. Bodayle emphasizes the importance of confronting these uncomfortable truths in academia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Investment in Heidegger's Complex Philosophy
- Many engage with Heidegger's philosophy because the text promises deep answers about being despite its complexity.
- Intellectual investment in understanding often leads to reluctance to confront his fascist political commitments.
Heidegger’s Nazi Engagement is Central
- Heidegger's Nazi involvement was deep and intrinsic, not a brief aberration.
- His postwar claims of secret resistance are widely regarded as fabricated by scholars including Habermas.
Authenticity Anchored in Collective Fate
- Heidegger's concept of authenticity binds individuals to their historical fate and folk heritage.
- This collectivist authenticity diverges sharply from Sartre's humanist notion of self-creation.