Hitler's Ethic - The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress

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.

List of contents

Introduction Hitler as Moral Crusader and Liar The Cult of Evolutionary Progress Racial Struggle Morally Upright Aryans and Immoral Jews Hitler's Socialism: Building the People's Community Sexual Morality and Population Expansion Controlling Reproduction to Improve the Human Species The Struggle for Living Space: War and Expansionism Justifying Murder and Genocide Conclusion

About the author

RICHARD WEIKART Professor of Modern European History at California State University, Stanislaus, USA. 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.

Report

'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 honourable duty.' - Richard Overy, Professor of History, University of Exeter, UK

Product details

• Authors: R Weikart, R. Weikart
• Publisher: Springer Palgrave Macmillan
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2009
• EAN: 9781349380732
• ISBN: 978-1-349-38073-2
• No. of pages: 254
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 216 mm x 14 mm
• Weight: 346 g
• Illustrations: XIII, 254 p.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology; B, Cultural History, History, European History, European Politics, Social History, Social & cultural history, European Union, Politics & government, History of Science, EU (European Union), History, Modern, Civilization—History, Palgrave History Collection, Modern History, European Union Politics, Europe—History