Lawrence Helm wrote: "You must know that while [Heidegger] was rector he urged students and faculty to trust not in themselves but in the Fuhrer." Yes, he did this. But Heidegger also understood the Fuhrerprinzip as a historical phenomenon, so that obedience was not to an individual as an individual, but rather to the truth of history, within which the Fuhrer played a role. If I remember correctly, Heidegger understood the Fuhrer as part of a larger unfolding of the world. This understanding was incompatible with the Nazi philosophers who understood Hitler as the center around which the world was going to be shaped. It seems to me that when Heidegger finally accepted that his understanding of the Fuhrerprinzip was incompatible with National Socialism, he again 'turned'. One can fault Heidegger for his treatment of his colleagues and students. One can fault Heidegger for using National Socialism to further his career ambitions. One can fault Heidegger for not sooner rejecting National Socialism. However, I just don't see that his philosophy is compatible with National Socialism. And the way the Nazis treated Heidegger seems to suggest that they also didn't see Heidegger as a natural ally. Heidegger wanted to place the Fuhrer under a larger unfolding world, while the Nazis wanted the world to unfold under the Fuhrer. Two very different 'philosophies'. Finally, even when he was urging obedience to the Fuhrer, Heidegger argued that this was necessary according to reason. Again, I would like to see a text where Heidegger dismisses reason. Sincerely, Phil Enns Yogyakarta, Indonesia ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html