Nietzsche and Zionism: The Unlikely Philosopher Who Inspired a Movement
Nietzsche and Zionism: The Unlikely Philosopher Who Inspired a Movement
Reading Nietzsche requires as much nuance as assessing Israel-Palestine
It may surprise some that one of the biggest influences on Zionism was the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. While there’s much to critique about his work, the reasons for the Zionist movement drawing inspiration from Nietzsche are interesting, especially in light of the current Israeli and Hamas conflict.
Nietzsche’s relationship to Zionism is complex and has been the subject of much debate for decades. Some scholars argue his philosophy was a precursor to Zionism, while others contend his ideas were misinterpreted by early Zionist thinkers like Theodor Herzl.
Understanding Nietzsche and Zionism
To understand Nietzsche’s views on Judaism, one must first understand his critiques of Christianity. He was a strong critic, to say the least. Nietzsche viewed Christianity as a weak and decadent religion, arguing that it stifled the creative and natural instincts of humanity.
For Nietzsche, Christianity corrupted Judaism. He thought Jews needed to return to their pagan roots to regain vitality.
These arguments inspired many early Zionist thinkers in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th. They saw in Nietzsche a call for a strong and virile Jewish people, free from the constraints of traditional morality.
Similar to his concept of the “New European Man” or “Übermensch”, Nietzsche inspired early Zionists to break from traditional Jewish identity and embrace a future as the “New Jews.” They argued that the Jews needed to create their own nation-state to fully realize this potential.
Notably, other Zionist thinkers disagreed. They argued that Nietzsche's individualism and elitism were incompatible with the Zionist ideal of a collective society. His anti-Christian rhetoric was viewed as harmful to their Zionist cause.
The misinterpreted man
I should emphasize: Nietzsche never explicitly endorsed Zionism. His relationship with the movement is made even more complicated by the fact that the Nazis admired his work. This admiration reveals how varied - and contradictory - the interpretations run.
The fact someone’s philosophy could even be favorably interpreted by one of worst fascist regimes in history suggests something was probably amiss. Perhaps it was Nietzsche’s championing of “Übermensch”, which the Nazi’s viewed as “superman”, or his “master morality”, which condemned the weak.
Or maybe it was his infatuation with war and warriors. In The Will to Power, Nietzsche praised the “lords of the earth”, a phrase similar to one Hitler would later take up in Mein Kampf. It advocated for an international ruling race that would lord over the weak.
The great distinction, however, between Nietzsche and the Nazis is that Nietzsche argued that the Jews had a valuable role to play as “lords of the earth.” The Nazis, obviously, did not agree. But it was this selective use of Nietzsche’s philosophy to their advantage that made their rise to power and barbaric execution of such all the more devastating.
Nietzsche’s criticisms of Judaism were the same as those he had against Christianity. He viewed both as advocating and instilling a “slave morality” in their adherents. Instead of “loving thy neighbor as thyself”, Nietzsche thought that a world ruled by strong people over weak was ideal.
The anti-anti-semite
In the Jews, Nietzsche saw a resilient people. Remember, during his time in the late 19th century, anti-semitism was gaining force, and Jews across the world were increasingly being persecuted. But unlike many anti-semites, Nietzsche didn’t want to strip Jews of the traits and qualities that made them successful in the modern world.
He wanted to do the exact opposite. He advocated promoting those traits, incorporating them into a European race that would exercise power over the entire world.
For someone who was a self-proclaimed anti-nationalist and anti-fascist, it’s not hard to see why people with opposing tendencies might find inspiration in Nietzsche’s work. Conversely, it’s not hard to see why many in the early Zionist movement were also inspired.
Here was a contemporary philosopher who complimented Jews, even while also saying they suffered from a “slave morality” (the same with Christians from his perspective). The ideas of rebirth, reform, and the creation of a new Jewish identity were evidently compelling to many Zionists. That was especially true in the wake of mass oppression, hatred, and following World War II, genocide, against the Jewish people.
No matter where Jews went throughout history, they were almost always persecuted. They were usually deemed outcasts in any society where they tried to assimilate.
What Nietzsche teaches us today about Israel-Palestine
While I certainly don’t agree with all of Nietzsche’s eugenics-fueled visions of the world, his ideas about exerting strength and formulating a new identity are undeniably powerful, particularly for a group of people searching for peace and prosperity.
Our current world in the 21st century is at a crossroads, much as it was during Nietzsche’s time. Attacks and anti-semitism are on the rise. Many have called for Palestine to be free “from the river to the sea”, which if interpreted literally would mean wiping out all of the current state of Israel.
Hopefully Nietzsche’s concept of “the will to power” can be used in furtherance of peace and coexistence in the 21st century, despite its misguided application almost a century ago. If anything, the extreme interpretations of Nietzsche, from either side of the political aisle, should be a warning: the subjugation of anyone to the power of another has never worked in the long term throughout history.
People want to be free, no matter how weak Nietzsche may have viewed them. That’s true for Israelis, and it’s also true for Palestinians.
It just goes to show that reading Nietzsche requires as much thought and nuance as assessing the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We all need to approach the topic with respect and a critical eye as we aim to strengthen our bonds through shared humanity.
The unartificially intelligent corner
Another awful week for gun violence in America. I revamped an old essay I wrote in 2017 that unfortunately still rings true today. Give it a read and let me know your thoughts. Read here.
If you missed last week’s newsletter, we discussed how many on the left have failed the Hamas test. And if you follow me on Threads you know the failures keep coming. You can follow me on Twitter/X too.
On a lighter note, here’s a lovely pasta dish.
Have a good week.