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4.5
“Central to the modern age had been the belief that society could be made rational, could be ordered, controlled, understood. With the collapse of Marxism as a secular creed, society became again irrational, threatening, incomprehensible, menaced by sinister powers against which the individual has no defense. (xix)Drucker believes Marxism, and in fact, European culture broke down in 1914. Why?“With Christianity, freedom and equality became the two basic concepts of Europe, they are themselves Europe. For two thousand years all orders and creeds of Europe developed out of the Christian order and had freedom and equality as their goal. European history is the history of the projection of these concepts into the reality of social existence.’’ (51)How produced ‘social existence’?“Realization of freedom and equality was first sought in the spiritual sphere. The creed that all men are equal in the world beyond and free to decide their fate in the other world by their actions in this one . . . . That every last judgement at a church door shows popes, bishops, and kings in damnation was not just a romantic fantasy of a rebellious stonemason. . . . It saw and understood man as Spiritual Man, and his place in the world and in society as a place in a spiritual order. And it made theology an ‘exact science.’’’ (51)What happened? (no real freedom found here in this world) Who replaced the ‘spiritual man’?“When this order collapsed, freedom and equality became projected into the intellectual sphere. The Lutheran creed, which made man decide his fate by the use of his free and equal intellect in interpreting the Scriptures, is the supreme - though neither the only nor the last - metamorphosis of the order of Intellectual Man.’’ (51)This ‘intellectual man’ also disappeared in his turn (he couldn't find freedom and equality either). Where now can ‘freedom and equality’ be found?“After its breakdown freedom and equality became projected into the social sphere: man became first Political and then Economic Man. Freedom and equality became social and economic freedom and social and economic equality. Man’s nature became a function of his place in the social and economic order in which his existence found his explanation and its reason.’’ (52)‘Economic Man’! I know him! (me)? What social results?“In Marxism this conception of the world and of society reaches its climax. The faith in the attainability of freedom and equality in and through the economic sphere is restated and based upon the very failure of capitalism to reach this goal.’’ (52)Drucker’s focus is not on the material, economic results of capitalism. He looks to the assumed goal - freedom and equality. This is the real, important, overriding, and fundamental demand of European culture.“Marxism is one of the most grandiose, most profound creeds which Europe has ever produced. But Marxism hinges on a dialectic play upon the concept of freedom, which comes dangerously near abandoning freedom altogether.’’ (52)Remember, Drucker wrote this in 1933!The Anti-Facist IllusionThe Despair of the MassesThe Return of the MassesThe Return of the DemonsThe Failure of the Christian ChurchesThe Totalitarian MiracleFascist Noneconomic SocietyMiracle or Mirage?The Future: East Against West?Drucker’s understanding of European thought focuses on religious foundations. He sees religion has given much to European history and yet. . .“The impotence and inadequacy of the forces of religion just at the time when they are most urgently needed is perhaps the most disheartening feature of the European situation today.’’ (108)Why so inadequate?“It is impossible to be a revolutionary from within an existing order. Yet a Christian cannot act otherwise as long as the forms and institutions of the churches are intact. The Christian new integration can become successful only after the routine of the churches has been destroyed or, in other words, after persecution or social revolution have rendered impossible the maintenance of the outward institutions. (109)Well. . .this is how Christianity started. Christians to the lions! Romans are gone. Christians are still here!“That the churches and the Christian religion will be persecuted under totalitarianism beyond anything we have seen till now, appears certain. And therein lies the one real possibility that the work of the revolutionary forces within the churches will ultimately bear fruit.’’ (110)Insightful. The submission of Christendom to Hitler, Stalin, etc., and in fact to the entire war lust, destroyed its credibility. As far as I know, Jehovah's Witnesses were the only organized religion that resisted (and many do not accept them as part of Christendom). A notable percentage of victims in the camps were witnesses. Of course, many others (as individuals) suffered for conscience.One fascinating section is Drucker's analysis of Nietzsche. . .“It might seem incongruous to call him as a witness for the Christian elite. But there is no doubt in my mind that his whole work centers in the attempt to avoid the acceptance of Christianity, and his breakdown was caused in the last instance - whatever its physical causes - by the realization that he had run into a blank wall where the denial of his own rationality and sanity had become the only alternative to Christianity.’’ (97)Wow! What happened?“When the Superman proved a shallow illusion whereof the last works bear evidence in their resignation and fear, the experiment to set up a valid non-Christian concept of man and of society collapsed. (98)Other writers use Nietzsche’s insanity as metaphor for European insanity.This work is outside mainstream thought. Even though many of his opinions have stood the test of time, they challenge the current ear. Especially his vision that highlights religion. Nevertheless, his insights reveal causes that a purely secular thinker would miss.Not a difficult read, but requires serious effort. This is not a scholarly explanation for academics, but a sincere effort to inform interested readers. Reminds me in some ways of Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom’’. Some different concepts, some contrasting opinions, but both writing, even pleading, for understanding - although offering unpopular conclusions.No index, although a three page appendix providing insight on people mentioned.No photographs.
