The line is from Martin Heidegger’s resigned and despairing Der Speigel interview, shortly before his death in 1976. At Rockford University we hosted a showing of Jeffrey Van Davis’s film on Martin Heidegger’s philosophy and his disturbing relationship with National Socialism. After the showing, we had a panel discussion featuring director Van Davis, professors David Sytsma and Jules Gleicher of the Rockford history and political science departments, respectively, and myself as moderator.
Heidegger is one of the most influential of all twentieth-century philosophers, yet he was also a strong supporter of National Socialism in Germany. Is there a connection between Heidegger’s philosophy and his Nazism or is the coincidence accidental? More generally, is there a connection between philosophical theory and political practice? Heidegger died in 1976 — what should we think of his never recanting his support for the Nazi movement even after the end of World War II and the Holocaust?
From the film’s website:
“Only A God Can Save Us”
Length: 118 min.
Shot in 16mm, mini DV
Country of Origin: Germany
Shot in: USA, Germany, France, Holland
Persons featured in film:
Kardinal Karl Lehmann, Bishop of Mainz
Alfred Denker, Heidegger Biographer
Hugo Ott, Freiburg University
Victor Farias, Free University of Berlin
Tom Rockmore, Duquesne University, USA
Richard Wolin, City University of New York, USA
Ted Kisiel, Northern Illinois University, USA
Rainer Marten, Freiburg University
Emmanuel Faye, University of Paris
Bernd Martin, Freiburg University
Iain Thomson, University of New Mexico, USA
Jürgen Paul, Dresden University
Silke Seemann, Freiburg University
Rangvi Wesendonk
Axel Graf Douglas, Schloss Langenstein
Some of the topics covered in the documentary:
1. Heidegger’s concept of Being and the “turning” from Dasein to Sein
2. His humble beginnings and staunch Catholic education.
3. The Rectorship and his denunciation of teachers such as Nobel Prize winner Staudinger. His enthusiasm for Gleichschaltung of Frieburg University.
4. His highly manipulative love affair with Hannah Arendt.
5. His relationship to Edith Stein.
6. His refusal to give a word of reconciliation to Paul Celan who visited him in his hut at Todtnauberg.
7. The denazification process and his refusal to recant his support for Hitler.
Related: Heidegger, in the Philosophers, Explained series.
I saw this documentary last year at the University of Maryland, through the History Dept. It was intelligent and intellectuallly honest. Highly recommended. I particularly liked the quote from Heinrich Heine at the end, predicting the outcome of the ideas circulating in Germany some 100 years before.
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Good to know that. Thanks, Michelle.
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Would love to participate in this wonderful opportunity. I live in San Antonio, so I won’t make it. Where can I purchase the film? It’s currently “unavailable” in Amazon and Davis’ website does not provide information on that regard. Appreciate any pointers!
Dear Dr. Hicks, I’m a Presbyterian pastor and I recently found your excellent work and service in providing an education for the rest of us “out there” …Thank you for all you do and for “being there.” I have enjoyed your worked tremendously!
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Hi Victor. Thanks for your comment. I’ll follow up with you via email.
Stephen
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I wish to purchase a copy of the documentary ‘Only God can save us now’
since this video is not available on Amazon. Thank you!
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Hi Eli:
I sent your email to the director, in case he can give you some options.
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Is there some site I can purchase the movie from? thanks, claude
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I am also looking for a site to purchase this film. Thank you
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Hi Rebecca Rose,
I just checked the Rockford college site and found your note.
Please contact docfilmmaker@wildblue.net, who will be happy to send you a DVD.
I live in Germany and my brother in Tucson will take care of this for me.
thank you for your interest.
Jeffrey van Davis
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Dear Jeffrey,
I would very much appreciate an opportunity to exchange briefly by email. Would that at all be possible? If so, you could drop me a line at dev.vaidya@btinternet.com
Best wishes from Devang Vaidya
London
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This is worth comment, but I’ve learned that my comments here aren’t approved (don’t appear), which is saddening because, as a scholar of Heidegger’s thinking, my views are all evidenced by actual texts by Heidegger, unlike so much opinion about “Heidegger” which is secondhand, thirdhand, or a god-only-knows the un-sourced opinions come from. For example, nowhere in his work will one find Heidegger represent The Turn as “from Casein to Sein.” See his 1962 letter to Wm. J. Richardson. And statements 3, 4, 6, and 7 are false.
So, if you decide that sourced comment is useful, I’d be glad to comment further.
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…But giving time to proof-reading my improvised comments online is an ongoing challenge.
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