Social degeneration theory does it lead to facism?

ILoveYourVibes

The theory that society is degenerating and the cause of this is both biological and social eventually coined the world 'Degenerate'.

A degenerating society was one that was not what it once was and had 'LOST' it's identity. It fed into ideas of ethno centrism. And of 'restoration into a true identity or purity'

Contributing to this degeneration was also a biological factor a degenerate was no longer a part of the species its ancestors once were. Whether than be a bird a fish or a human being.

The word decadence actually originally meant to rot. And was used to describe alternative or subversive culture and art.

Abstract art Jazz etc were degenerate.

Anything that does not contribute to the greater ideal of the prior identity of society is 'degenerate'. There is no moral or value judgement. For something to no longer represent what it once was is enough for it to be considered Degenerate. A neighborhood changes from what it once was ..it has degenerated. Its the DIFFERENCE that makes it inferior not its quality.

It was rejected as a theory by Darwin outright. And he publicly opposed it.

But it was adopted by many others such as Charles Maurras and Maurice Barres.


Nietzsche was hijacked as a lot of his work seemed to represent this theory of society degenerating. While he presented certain moral arguments i don't think that was his prime motivation.

This further developed into an idea that white Christians particularly in Germany formed one whole society and anything that deviated from this was 'degenerate' it was no longer a part of Germany and eventually no longer a part of society and finally no longer a part of the human race. It was thought some people and cultures had deviated so far biologically from the original that it was in no way related to it.

This is really the central idea in most forms of ethno centrism.

As all of this can be presented in varied language.
I began to wonder. How well would I recognize a Fascist idea ?

For example it might seem surprising. But Plato proposed and promoted fascism in his Republic as well as eugenics. Mussolini was admirer of Plato.
Italian fascists modeled their society on ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

Hitler also used Plato's works to justify his regime.Whilst the NAME fascism began with Mussolini he idea had been around a long time. Plato might be what we call a 'proto fascist'. Plato’s Republic does contain elements that seem strangely authoritarian his state would be run by a technocratic-philosopher elite. Working people could not think well about the issues of the day. They were not 'educated enough' etc. Being educated in plato's world gave someone a social status and power over others that was higher than anyone else. It's elitism.

Just goes to show what happens when you read Plato without a good teacher! The idea is to critique and deconstruct Plato and use these as tools to understand.


More on how fascist philosophy is presented or where it can be found where you might not expect it from Natalie Wynn.

So plato intellectually good ...morally baaad