Hitler's Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress [Hardcover]

Richard Weikart (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 1, 2009

In this book, Weikart helps unlock the mystery of Hitler’s evil by vividly demonstrating the surprising conclusion that Hitler’s immorality flowed from a coherent ethic. Hitler was inspired by evolutionary ethics to pursue the utopian project of biologically improving the human race. This ethic underlay or influenced almost every major feature of Nazi policy: eugenics (i.e., measures to improve human heredity, including compulsory sterilization), euthanasia, racism, population expansion, offensive warfare, and racial extermination.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“There have been many attempts to provide the key to Hitler's world of ideas but Richard Weikart has succeeded in revealing what must be the central element in any understanding of Hitler's world view. The terrible paradox at the heart of the Third Reich, that biological utopia could only be created by intense physical suffering and violence, now has a proper explanation. What seemed to others bizarrely immoral appeared to Hitler an honorable duty.”--Richard Overy, Professor of History, University of Exeter, UK

About the Author

Richard Weikart is Professor of Modern European History at California State University, Stanislaus.  He has published three previous books, including From Darwin to Hitler and his prize-winning dissertation, Socialist Darwinism. He has also published numerous essays on social Darwinism in anthologies and leading journals, such as German Studies Review, Journal of the History of Ideas, and Isis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; y First printing edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230618073
• ISBN-13: 978-0230618077
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,493,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Weikart is professor of history at California State Univ., Stanislaus. He earned his Ph.D. in 1994 at the University of Iowa in modern European history with specializations in modern Germany and modern European intellectual history. His dissertation, which was subsequently published as a book, _Socialist Darwinism: Evolution in German Socialist Thought from Marx to Bernstein_, won the biennial prize of the Forum for History of Human Science for best dissertation in that field. He subsequently published with the scholarly publisher Palgrave Macmillan two books on the history of social Darwinism and evolutionary ethics in Germany: _From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany_ and _Hitler's Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress_. He has also published a book on the theology of Bonhoeffer. In addition to his books, he has published many articles, review essays, and reviews in scholarly journals.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Again September 22, 2009

By Darwin Researcher

Format:Hardcover

"Hitler's Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress" is a well documented work using largely primary sources, many in German. It follows the authors first book "From Darwin to Hitler" and further supports his conclusion in the first book, namely that Darwinism had a major influence on Hitler and the leading Nazis. Professor Weikart concludes that Hitler's evil can be explained only by evaluating the influence of eugenics on Germany, a conclusion that should be obvious to any informed student of the Nazi movement. The exact influence is the area of contention, an issue that this book helps to clarify in some detail. The study of the Nazi movement is now a small industry, and this book will greatly add to our understanding of many aspects of the worst 12 years in world history. This book is must reading for anyone who wants to be informed about this important chunk of Western history. We must not forget, and must understand it, to insure it never happens again.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Snapshot of Hitler's Doctrine July 20, 2011

By Virginia C. Hughes

Format:Paperback

This is a concise paperback that details the ethos Hitler followed during his reign. A brief chronology is offered and elements of eugenics, anti-semitism, living space, war, Darwinism, and most of all struggle. Struggle is a constant theme throughout the book. Hitler's view on the African Negro is also highlighted which is not mentioned in many other books and thought it added another dimension to his views on the master race. His ideas on socialism and nationalism all point to survival and evolution of the Aryan race. This definition deviates from other views on socialism where public goods and welfare predominate. It was interesting hearing the social programs and annual programs for helping the poor and stew Sundays. These programs are also uniquely discussed in this book compared to others motivating a sense of community and charity among the German people. These programs of course occurred early in his tenure as Chancellor. His preponderance for the convenient lie is also a major theme in this book. Lies were opportunistic in advancing his doctrine. For example, the Germans in Czech are suffering boosting national support for invading that country in 1939 and coming to their aid. Propaganda was paramount to effecting his policies; were they lies or were they moral to him because the ends justified the means. It is clear that he preached to the German people the volk is superior to the individual in preservation of the former and war is necessary to progress and evolution of the German people. All of his motives appear to support the goal of preserving the Aryan race. If the ill and decrepid are using up funds that could be used to support the war effort, they must be sacraficed for the volk. If any people are interfering with might of the volk they must be sacraficed, i.e. Jews. It was interesting reading the definition of how a Jew was defined, looking toward the number of grandparents and synogogue involvement, seemingly unscientific. The fact that initially Hitler did not purport extermination of the Jews until it was evident deportation was no longer viable is also consistent with other publications. His views on living space were in line with survival of the fittest in that he felt land is for the taking when the stronger people defeat the weaker and he also feared a China scenario where running out of living space would depress the volk. Although he thought the Japanese were sub par to the Aryan race, he was flexible on his ideological policies when he needed to be. this was also the case with the German mother. In one instance he purported the main purpose of women was reproduction; however, when labor was needed to support the war, he altered his policies. In April 1945, when it was clear the end was near, true to his doctrine and interviews from persons in the bunker he accepted that a stronger people(s) had defeated a weaker one. The laws of nature prevailed. He deferred his individualism role as leader of the people to the volk in defeat, he did not act to evacuate people from Berlin. Was this his own flawed character or was he kneeling to his own doctrine of national socialism? Both may be true. A rich source of knowledge and philosophy.

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adolf Hilter: The Greatest Evolutionist of the 20th Century February 15, 2010

By Roger Edward Paull

Format:Hardcover

Hitler's Ethic solves a mystery: Why did Germany, a modern industrialized nation with a rich Christian tradition of humanitarianism and charity, become the most brutal and genocidal killing machine in history? Author Richard Weikart assumes the role of master history detective and continues the research he began in From Darwin to Hitler. Weikart seemingly has examined every word that has emanated from the pen or mouth of Adolf Hitler in his writings, speeches, and recorded conversations as well as diligently researching Hitler's Nazi conspirators and the works of other Hitler historians. Having gathered the evidence, Weikart then becomes a fearless prosecuting attorney and presents an air tight case in his well written, easy to read book, Hitler's Ethic - The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress. Weikart proves that the core of Nazism was an unwavering belief by Hitler and his followers (especially scientists and medical doctors) in Darwinian evolution. To Hitler genocide and war was ethical and moral because it was a law of nature, a survival of the fittest, a species specific law of evolution, or as Darwin subtitled Origin of Species, [Nazism was] the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. I wrote above that Weikart was "fearless." By this I meant that any criticism of Darwin is considered by many in the academic community as blasphemy and high treason. Branding Darwinism with the swastika of Nazi Germany proved Weikart was a champion of truth regardless the personal consequences. As an armature Hitler historian I believe Hitler's Ethic is the gold standard for understanding Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.