Adolf Hitler Biography - Assignment Example

ADOLF HITLER 1889-1945 HITLER QUESTIONS AND POINTERS (I have left you some space to jot down some brief answers It will be helpful as you speed through Mein Kampf to pay special attention to the italicized passages. They often state the crux. Also, the main topics are listed at the top of the page.  A great deal of this book is autobiographical.  To evaluate the facts of what Hitler tells us about his life you should first read this encyclopedia article on his life and politics.  It will help us place this book in its proper historical context and make us see the significance of our studying this book/ideology in this course. 2. In Chapter X (Vol. One) trace the theme of disease, sickness and virus as the supposed cause of the collapse of the Weimar Republic- What was the basic disease, what its symptoms and what the main virus that carried the disease?   As opposed to what most people had viewed, Hitler believes that the war was not only, if not the primary cause of Germany’s fall. He strongly deemed that it was rather due to the degeneration of its own people’s sense of preservation that had been steering even before the war. Degradation that can even be attributed to democracy, with people’s traditions and morals gradually diminished; as they form their own ideals to the point that money became their God. Its manifestations were primarily greed that had caused total separation of classes and eventually to an extensive economic struggle. Its own people with the aid of aggravators such as the Jews were greatly responsible with its downfall. 3. What are the natural requirements of marriage? What is a blood sin? What should happen to an organism that is no longer healthy and cannot fight for its life? (Ch. X)   As marriage is naturally intended as a means to procreate and to build a good foundation for a new being, Hitler had considered that early marriage would be more appropriate. Having a young couple on their fullest capacity is the only possibility that marriage main function will be practically fulfilled. Blood sins are sexually transmitted diseases, considerably affecting not just the couple but the very innocent child as well. In that sense, individuals infected with such, should be renounced of his sexual practice. To put an end on its suffering and avoid infecting others, an organism that is no longer healthy and can fight for its life must expire. It may sound brutal, but very practical and natural to its sense. 4. Chapter XI obviously makes some very important connections and hopefully explains why I spoke in class of  Hitler as having an "organic theory" of the State. Why can things not get more organic than this?  What is "race"?  What is Hitlers concept of the "Aryan race?  For Hitler, a race should be pure having their culture preserved as it continually develop his people. His “organic theory” implies that race should be unmixed, thus keeping its fine traits, and be able to further grow, being undisturbed by any impurities. He consider Aryan race as founded pure, perfect and superior to other race. He attributes that almost all signs of human development were products of the Aryans. 5. What are the implications of Hitlers emphasis about race for his political theory?  Does Hitler have a political theory?  Take note of all the passages where Hitler talks about "inner unity" and "national solidarity" (which are seemingly harmless phrases) and ask yourself each time what he means exactly. (I have found that many students do not dig into this question!!) Please dig.   His emphasis on “pure” race implies his own “political theory”. For he had considered that any breed alteration may affect purity, the same thing is true with a nation. When a nation becomes so bombarded with so many forces, it becomes distracted. That happens on democracy, when excessive freedom, gives the people so many choices that eventually lose its focus towards their main goal. Their national objective then would be compromised being so vested with their own self interest. When he speaks of “inner unity”, he pertains to a nation letting itself be influenced only by a single force that binds its people together which is “national solidarity”. Again for him, democracy would just open the door to other conflicting visions. That would then explain why and how he had managed to put down democracy. 6. What for Hitler is the sole cause of the dying out of cultures? What is "culture"?  How are biology and culture connected for him?  Are they foryou? (Chap XI)   For Hitler, the sole cause of dying out of a culture is the infiltration of cultures. He had implied that a culture should not be influenced by any other force. That way it should maintain its existence, of which includes having its biological traits, preserved and be kept unchanged. 7. What evidence (alleged facts etc.) does Hitler give for placing the Aryan race is at the top and the Jewish race at the bottom?  How many races doanthropologists say that their are? (For an answer, see the Benedict reading you are asked to do on your own.)   How did the Jews "infiltrate" German life and culture? He had considered the Aryan race as the superior race for he believes that everything that implies human excellence was Aryan’s creation. While with his long founded hate for the Jews had made him consider them as the most inferior one. Anthropologists considered that there were 3-4 basic races of which are subdivide into 30. In Mein Kampf it was suggested that the “Jews” having been so good with their lies somehow manage to infiltrate Germany. 8. Why might Jews generally be in favor of parliamentarianism and democracy and why is Hitler not in favor of those things?  Why does Hitler condemn the impulse toward egalitarianism that he sees in Jewish people?  Why does Hitler say the Jewish interest in justice is a sick interest"(still IX I think)   Hitler viewed any system that gives the people so much freedom will only make them confused. For him, parliamentary and democracy would destroy the people’s inner unity. 9. How does Hitler propose to win the masses of people for his movement? (Vol. One, Chapter XII) With his observation of how ineffective the previous leaders had been, he came up with very different tactics to convince the masses. With his great oratorical skills he manages to convince the people. Letting them constantly hear his powerful speech had force them to do what it commands like some sort of hypnotism. 11. What does Hitler mean by the word "folkish"? What is his "folkish world view-? In what way is it a world view? What does the German word Weltanschauung mean ?- As opposed to the world view of the term “folkish”, Hitler being a racist had considered it as judging a man regarding his race. In a world view “folkish” means considering the whole being of a person regardless of his race. Germans had defined Weltanschauung as a whole system of ideas associated together in an organic unity – ideas of human life, human values, cultural and religious ideas, politics, economics, etc., in fact a totalitarian view of human existence. 12. On what does the victory of this idea or philosophy depend? In what way could we see Hitlers National Socialist Party as having the job of a "translator"? What do you think of a political ideology that (unlike Hitlers) is not attached to any kind of party movement or program? Which ones in this course are like that? Any like Hitlers that were so attached?   As a translator, the party must understand the emotional ideas of the great masses and find, through a psychologically correct form, the way to the attention and thence to the heart of the broad masses. It should not just encourage racial elements but should also adjust to its task. In reality there could be no political ideology that would not be attached to any party movement or propaganda. 13. What does Hitler mean by -the basic aristocratic idea of Nature as being valid dawn to the last individual? Who are the bearers of a higher ethics?- What higher ethics? What is ethics? 14. Vol- Two/Chapter II goes for several questions. What three conceptions of the State does Hitler spell out and how does he rank them against his own folkish philosophy? Note that the last two center on the role of language. Why is that? What does Hitlers own definition of the State add that (he says) supersedes language? According to him, state has three parts; the followers, the leaders and the opposition. Only the leaders and the opposition hold the active position while the followers remain passive. The leaders, with their aim to maintain their power, see to it that their government is being implemented. While the opposition, having been able to understand and wide awaken by the truth, struggles to fight against the first group. 15. What is Hitlers definition of the State? What for him is the connection between the State and the Nation? What is a nation? Can you give examples of states that are not nations in this sense? Is the USA a nation in Hitlers sense- Must nations and states cover the same territory or may their spaces differ? For him State serves as an abusive government, that it has no room on the nation. A nation for him consists of purely unaltered race. In that sense, USA is obviously a state, being a mixture of different blood. 16. How many "nations" do you think a good state can encompas within its territory? What special difficulties does a mult-ination State encounter? How does Hitler propose to solve those difficulties? Regardless of number, a good state should comprise several nations that are able to work hand in hand with each other. Although, it would be less conflicted if a state would have a single nation, just like what Hitler had viewed it. 17. What happens when a State is composed of individuals only and the Nation as mediator between them and the State drops out of the picture? What would Hitler say happens to peoples- identities in a case like that? That would be a total disaster, making its people confused and thus affecting their live in a vast sense. 18. Do you think there is or should be a difference between a persons personal identity and his or her political identity? Discuss. For me a righteous person should live as a whole, with one genuine identity and principles in life. As for political identity, he/she must make it a point to incorporate it with his personal identity. That is to avoid deception of his/her people. In instance that he/she might need to oppose his/her own personality or ideals, in such a great extent, might even be considered hypocrisy. 19. What is so bad about "hyper-individualism"? State authority is the formal mechanism of what? When does Hitler say world history is made? Why does Hitler (or his translator) capitalize the word -Nature- almost all of the time? Why does Hitler use the word -instinct- so often? Hyper-individualism is the though that man should live for himself alone. The role of the state is to ward of the thought and replace it with people’s unity for the sake of it’s government or the people as a group. 20. Can you see how the Holocaust could/did develop out of what Hitler says about -family values-, purity, weakness, and -the mentally unhealthy-? What is the science of eugenics? Degeneration of family values, purity, and mental health would surely lead to a holocaust. This can be prevented by being able to create man with a pure pool of gene with pure blood. The science of eugenics deals with is a social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through various forms of intervention. 21. What is the connection between Hitlers -"folkish political philosophy" and what he recommends as a good education? What do you yourself think the goal of education should be? Why?   He had recommended that a good education should forces a student to be responsible. Its goal is to make an individual functional for the group. For me a good education, teaches its student the value of knowledge and how he/she could use it for his own good. It should convince its student that he could be of great value to the world as he/she explore and share his full potential to the world. 22. What happens to classes in Hitlers political philosophy? With Hitler’s political philosophy there would be far worst gap between classes having it been conflicted with racial discrimination. 23. What are Hitlers requirements for citizenship? (Vol- Two/Chap-III) What do you think they should be? His requirement of citizenship strictly requires purity of blood. 24. Why do you think so many countries today rethinking their citizenship and immigration laws? Issues in citizenship and immigration had becoming more provisional due man’s constant rationalization. Man’s never ending search for something more had led to both good and bad. Though development is one of the good, abuse is one of its evil. That same principle may be relevant to the never ending provisions. 25. Vol.Two/ChapterIV is an attack on Marxism. Why did Hitler see Marxism as his major ideological opponent? What is the opposite of racism? What does Hitler say is wrong with what he calls -the democratic idea?- Marxism implies that racial struggle is not just inevitable but essential. It is a opposition to democracy being in favor of communism. 27. Discuss the gap that I think exists in Hitlers political philosophy and strategy between -the initiated elites who know the "inner sense" of things and the masses and good foot soldiers who do nothing but obey and only come to know the "outsward formulations" of things? Where else in this course have we noted a gap like that? Why does Hitler prize obedience more than the intellect? Why does a strategy like Hitlers need to work with a gap like this? Politically, what is the great defect of a strategy like this? What supposition does it make about human nature? What Hitler had professed his political philosophy is nonetheless his strategy. By claiming that he value obedience more than intellect, he was able to convince the masses, which serves as the obedient class, to follow him. This strategy is greatly defective for it only lures the people, making them blind of the truth. This kind of strategy will eventually lead to doom either when the people’s eyes have eventually been opened or not. It serves to prove that man no regardless of his status will never be contented. Read More