Antisemitism

Summary

Dominique Pagani approaches antisemitism mainly through the Nietzsche-Wagner case. He rejects the picture of a progressive Nietzsche set against a reactionary Wagner: in his view, the only parts of Nazism found in Wagner are antisemitism and nationalism, while Nietzsche carries almost all its other themes12. Drawing on Losurdo, he argues that Nietzsche becomes philosemitic only after his break with Wagner, and he points out that in a letter of 1872 the "Jewish press" became the "Socratic press" in the Colli-Montinari edition1. He explains Wagner's virulent antisemitism by his resentment, in Paris, towards Meyerbeer, who was blocking his career. He also recalls that Wiesenthal acknowledged Wagner's generosity and genius, and he mentions Wagner's Jewish stepfather, Geyer, who may have been his father2. He returns to the subject in 2024 through the memory of a friend who heard Jewish chants in Mime's lament, and ends on the narrow path between support for Israel and antisemitism3.

1. 1#12 Nietzsche (right up) against Wagner28 Jan 2021
2. 2#9.15 How can sciences of history be real?18 Feb 2021
3. 3The eternal return… of the death camps?13 Oct 2024

Introduction produced automatically from the 4 sessions on this theme, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the sessions.