2021 Student Research Conference:
34th Annual Student Research Conference

Nietzsche and Vedanta: Examining the Academic Origins of Nazism

 


Joshua M. Glor
Dr. Dereck Daschke, Faculty Mentor

The presentation will examine the origins of fascist thought in both the European study of Vedanta, and the philosophical work of Freidrich Nietzsche, explore their connection, and argue that the two served as foundational for the spiritual aspects of Nazi ideology. The primary argument in this presentation will be that the legitimate academic study of ancient Persia and Iran and the Indo-European peoples was weaponized to serve as a critique of the modern world, and that Nietzsche is the most powerful example of a European thinker who used an idealized Ancient East in such a way. The presentation will specifically discuss Thus Spoke Zarathustra and the Nazi expedition to Tibet as two central examples of the aforementioned academic weaponisation in Europe prior to and during the Nazi rise to power.

 

Keywords: Fascism, Philosophy, Vedanta, India, Persia, Tibet, Nietzsche

Topic(s):Philosophy & Religion

Presentation Type: Asynchronous Virtual Oral Presentation

Session: 16-3
Location: https://flipgrid.com/a8b68415
Time: 0:00

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