Kant's antisemitism ?

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), Aug 18, 2010 at 15:41

Paul Lawrence Rose wrote : > To the more universalist aspects of Kant's thinking should be added a very particular antisemitism that is also reflected in the current intertwining of universal values and antisemitism. This is described in detail in my book German Question/Jewish Question.Revolutionary Antisemitism in Germany from Kant to Wagner (Princeton 1992) which infuriated many readers (and pleased others) by its discrediting of Kant's humanitarian stature as an alibi for a "clean" German cultural tradition distinct from antisemitism. PLR <

An interesting point. But if you find antisemitism in such unlikely places as Kant's mind and German cultural tradition how do you account for the philosemitic policy of the Germans in occupied Eastern Europe - the homeland of most European Jews - during 1914-1918 ? Vocal Polish anti-Semites were jailed, their newspapers were shut down, Jewish organizations - schools, libraries, sports clubs were supported by the German authorities which further enraged local anti-Semites who coined the phrase of "the Jewish-German conspiracy". Anti-Jewish pogroms started only after the German troops had left ... How is it to be reconciled with the anti-Semitic German tradition discovered by you , I wonder ?

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