KorpoInfo
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Informationen rund um Studium, Hochschule und Korporationen
Materialist critique of Heidegger by the East German Marxist-Leninist philosopher Georg Mende (1910-1983). Excerpts from ‘Studien über die Existenzphilosophie’ (1956) translated by Helmut-Harry Loewen.* • The education of young people at universities in the spirit of awakening to “authentic existence” (Heidegger) … creates, when this seed falls on fertile ground, the pretense of the possibility of individual overcoming of the capitalist crisis. The emergence of fascist conquistadors and submission to their tyranny are the ultimate consequences of such doctrines. What initially appeared to be an escape from reality turns out to be a means of propaganda to prepare for fascism. (12) • The previously dominant position of bourgeois philosophy at German universities, which immediately stifled any debate with bourgeois philosophers on academic grounds from a Marxist standpoint, was broken thanks to the inexorable advance of progressive forces under the leadership of the socialist Soviet Union. There is much to catch up on. So much so that it would seem justified to ask whether a critique of Martin Heidegger should be considered one of the most urgent tasks. This is the case for several reasons. There is no detailed critique of this non-philosophy [Unphilosophie] from a materialist standpoint. Such a critical analysis must be written, all the more so as there is a danger that neofascist aspirations in West Germany will soon have advanced to such an extent that Heidegger will be allowed to appear openly again. There are more than a few signs that this is happening. In fact, Heidegger was significantly involved in the ideological underpinnings of fascism and therefore took over the rectorship of the University of Freiburg in 1933. In his rector's speech, we come across a sentence which—especially in view of the place where it was spoken—testifies to the unusual crudeness of this philosophy professor's hostility to science [34]: “That science should exist at all is never absolutely necessary.” The following analyses confirm the assumption that Heidegger was an intellectual impostor of the highest order [eine geistige Hochstapelei größten Ausmaßes] and a scandal to bourgeois scholarship. The quotations carefully highlight the main theses that anyone interested in philosophy should be familiar with in order to be able to comment on the matter itself. In addition, the interpretation points to many passages that have always been overlooked without their class character given a clearly emphasis. (14-15) • One must take Heidegger seriously. He has followers and students who transmit his teachings. … This nonsense [Unsinn] is not just “pure” nonsense. It is extremely dangerous. It has a clearly definable social function in the class struggle of our day. And it is a double one: to distract the naive bourgeoisie from real problems and to train the conscious bourgeoisie for entry into the imperialist-fascist (or imperialist-cosmopolitan) elite. That is why this paper is necessary; it is intended as a warning to all those who have always rejected Heidegger [38], to those who have not yet seen through him, and at the same time to comply with the often-repeated demand for critical treatment of teachings that can be attributed to imperialist ideology. It is necessary to root out this ideology from all its hiding places [diese Ideologie aus allen ihren Schlupflöchern aufzustöbern]. Fascist ideology, for example, had several faces in Germany. In philosophy, it presented itself as popular at times and esoteric at others. Heidegger even served up philosophy with a dash of expressionism in appealing to philosophers’ refined tastes, making a name for himself with an elaborate system of concepts that, upon closer examination, collapses. He became one of the most influential pioneers of fascism at German universities. From the outset, we would like to point out that Heidegger's most recent publications, such as his letter “On Humanism,” do not seem to indicate that Heidegger has undergone any notable changes in his philosophical views, and we therefore cannot agree with the opinion expressed by one reviewer of this work that it will “come as a perhaps very unexpected surprise to many admirers, but also to opponents.”10 On the contrary, this work only reinforces the impression that a materialist critique of Heidegger has always had to form, it does not change our opinion of Heidegger, but rather underscores the alliance of this thinking with the barbaric tendencies within the imperialist environment in which Heidegger's teachings developed, spread, and exerted their influence, as already evident in his magnum opus Being and Time. It can therefore be concluded that the 'newest' Heidegger differs in no way from the ‘old’ Heidegger, who is the subject of our debate. (17) __________ * Page references are to the online version of the book at Digital Philosophy 2.0: max-stirner-archiv-leipzig.de/dokumente/Mend… (Excerpts translated in 2025; HHL) Reproduction of the original book: #page/n0/mode/2up" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">portal.dnb.de/bookviewer/vie…
__________ Two statements on the death of Professor Mende: ~ Im Nachruf auf Georg Mende in der Deutschen Zeitschrift für Philosophie hieß es 1983 u. a. über ihn: "In Wort und Schrift hat sich Georg Mende vornehmlich zwei Gebieten zugewandt: der Geschichte der marxistisch-leninistischen Philosophie und der Kritik der spätbürgerlichen Philosophie, insbesondere des Existenzialismus und der Phänomenologie. [...] Die Einheit von Philosophie und Politik drückte sich im Schaffen von Georg Mende auch darin aus, dass er ständig verantwortungsvolle Positionen in der Sozialistischen Einheitspartei Deutschlands ausübte.“ ["In both his spoken and written work, Georg Mende focused primarily on two areas: the history of Marxist-Leninist philosophy and the critique of late-bourgeois philosophy, particularly existentialism and phenomenology. ... The unity of philosophy and politics was also reflected in Georg Mende’s work in that he consistently held positions of responsibility within the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.“] - Sektion Marxistisch-leninistische Philosophie der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena / Wissenschaftlicher Rat für Marxistisch-leninistische Philosophie / Redaktionskollegium der Deutschen Zeitschrift für Philosophie: Georg Mende †; in: DZPh 31(1983)6, S. 768. ~ Der Nachruf im zentralen Presseorgan der SED Neues Deutschland: "Wir geben in Tiefer Trauer bekannt, daß der Ehrensenator und langjährige Prorektor der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, der ehemalige Direktor des Institutes für Philosophie Prof. em. Dr. phil. habil. Dr. h. c. Georg Mende [...] am 2. Mai 1983 vestorben ist. 'Wir verlieren mit ihm einen bewährten Kämpfer für die Sache des Kommunismus, einen hervorragenden Wissenschaftler und akademischen Lehrer, der sich in der studentischen Ausbildung und philosophischen Forschung bleibende Verdienste erworben hat.', für den der Rektor, die Universitätsparteileitung, die Universitätsgewerkschaftsleitung sowie die Sektion marxistisch-leninistischen Philosophie verantwortlich zeichneten." ["It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Prof. em. Dr. phil. habil. Dr. h. c. Georg Mende, Honorary Senator and long-time Vice Rector of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, and former Director of the Institute of Philosophy, ... on May 2, 1983. 'With his passing, we have lost a proven champion of the cause of communism, an outstanding scholar and academic teacher who rendered lasting services to student education and philosophical research'- statement signed by the rector, the university party leadership, the university trade union leadership, and the Marxist-Leninist Philosophy Section.“] __________ Professor Georg Mende (1910-1983) served as director of the philosophy seminar at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, vice-rector of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and member of the Deutsche Zeitschrift für Philosophie editorial board. @iskrabooks @GabrielRockhill @trgenovese @RedPen1917
I'm happy to announce that I will be speaking at the 55th St.Gallen Symposium on “Disrupted Age” from 6-7 May 2026! The St. Gallen Symposium is the world’s most longstanding and relevant platform for cross-generational dialogue and aims to promote long-term and responsible leadership for the next generation. Further information can be found here ➡️ #55SGS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">symposium.org/#55SGS
#StGallenSymposium #DisruptedAge
Mal ganz offen gefragt, SPD: Hat man Euch ins Hirn geschi**en? Wer auch immer bei der SPD-Bundestagsfraktion darauf gekommen ist, ganz X zur „rechtsextremen Plattform“ zu machen, hat sie einfach nicht mehr alle. Ungeachtet der unzähligen Menschen, die sie so beleidigen und diffamieren, machen sie selbst alle eigenen Mitglieder, die dem Schwachsinn #WirVerlassenX nicht folgen, zu Kollaborateuren von angeblich Rechtsextremen. Das ist völlig bescheuert.
