The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice
The purpose of this paper is to show that underlying Schmitt’s account of fascist politics lies a Gnostic-like metaphysical dualism separating the realms of value and power. Contrary to the normative political tradition of the West, which defends ethical politics, Schmitt—jurist...
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MDPI AG
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/7 |
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doaj-5737dfc438e4404ebddc6fd134f8bebb2020-11-24T21:40:06ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442018-12-01101710.3390/rel10010007rel10010007The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and JusticeRichard A. Cohen0Department of Jewish Thought, University at Buffalo (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260, USAThe purpose of this paper is to show that underlying Schmitt’s account of fascist politics lies a Gnostic-like metaphysical dualism separating the realms of value and power. Contrary to the normative political tradition of the West, which defends ethical politics, Schmitt—jurist and theorist of the Nazis—aligns himself with Machiavelli and Hobbes to defend realpolitik for which sovereignty is ultimately a function of the Dictator’s will alone. This paper shows the contradiction within such a position, which criticizes values in politics, but by its advocacy and its defense of the Dictator’s willing, relies on valuation, choice and hence, the ethical.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/7justicefascismNaziGnosticismpowerethicswill |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Richard A. Cohen |
| spellingShingle |
Richard A. Cohen The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice Religions justice fascism Nazi Gnosticism power ethics will |
| author_facet |
Richard A. Cohen |
| author_sort |
Richard A. Cohen |
| title |
The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice |
| title_short |
The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice |
| title_full |
The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice |
| title_fullStr |
The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Power of Carl Schmitt: Fascism, Dualism and Justice |
| title_sort |
power of carl schmitt: fascism, dualism and justice |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| series |
Religions |
| issn |
2077-1444 |
| publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
| description |
The purpose of this paper is to show that underlying Schmitt’s account of fascist politics lies a Gnostic-like metaphysical dualism separating the realms of value and power. Contrary to the normative political tradition of the West, which defends ethical politics, Schmitt—jurist and theorist of the Nazis—aligns himself with Machiavelli and Hobbes to defend realpolitik for which sovereignty is ultimately a function of the Dictator’s will alone. This paper shows the contradiction within such a position, which criticizes values in politics, but by its advocacy and its defense of the Dictator’s willing, relies on valuation, choice and hence, the ethical. |
| topic |
justice fascism Nazi Gnosticism power ethics will |
| url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/7 |
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