Richard Weikart, Hitlers Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress (Palgrave MacMillan, 2011)
For many years now, historians have wondered whether Hitler had any sort of consistent ideology. His writings are rambling and confusing. His speeches are full of plain lies. His \u201ctable talk\u201d reflects a wandering, impulsive mind distinguished by a remarkable disconnection from reality. There are obvious themes: strident German nationalism, radical racialism, vicious anti-semitism, and militarism. Do these themes add up to an internally consistent \u201cworldview\u201d?\n\nRichard Weikart\xa0argues that they do. In his excellent book\xa0Hitler\u2019s Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress (Palgrave MacMillan, 2011), Weickart points out that Hitler, like so many of his generation, was powerfully influenced by a particular reading of Darwin\u2019s theory of evolution. By this interpretation, human \u201craces\u201d were seen as species and, as such, deemed to be in eternal struggle for life itself. \u201cNature,\u201d according to these theorists (usually called \u201cSocial Darwinists\u201d), selected the most fit races and destroyed the less fit. Weikart shows that Hitler held very fast to this idea, as can be seen both in his pronouncements and actions. He also shows that Hitler\u2013in contrast to many other Social Darwinists\u2013had no trouble leaping over the distinction between \u201cis\u201d and \u201cought.\u201d According to the Fuhrer, the \u201cfact\u201d that the \u201craces\u201d were subject to evolutionary process meant that they should struggle with all their might. Here, might was ethically right by what Hitler believed was irrefutable \u201cnatural law.\u201d It was a recipe for madness and, of course, immense tragedy. Listen in.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/genocide-studies