Heidegger and Nazism by Victor Farías

Heidegger and Nazism by Victor Farías is a provocative and meticulously researched investigation into the relationship between the renowned German philosopher Martin Heidegger and National Socialism. Originally published in French in 1987 and translated into English in 1989, this volume stirred significant academic and public debate by presenting extensive archival evidence of Heidegger’s political affiliations and ideological commitments during the Nazi era.

Farías, a Chilean scholar, draws from Heidegger’s own writings, speeches, and correspondence, as well as official documents and testimonies, to trace the philosopher’s support for the Nazi regime—particularly during his tenure as rector of Freiburg University in 1933–34. The book also explores how Heidegger’s political choices intersect with key elements of his philosophical thought, raising difficult questions about the ethics of intellectual legacy and the limits of philosophical abstraction.

Edited with a foreword by Joseph Margolis and Tom Rockmore, this English edition includes translations of French materials by Paul Burrell (with the advice of Dominic Di Bernardi) and German materials by Gabriel R. Ricci. The book remains a landmark contribution to the critical discourse on Heidegger’s life, work, and complicity with fascist ideology.

Technical details:

Publication year: 1989 (English edition)

Publisher: Temple University Press

Language: English

Original language: French (Heidegger et le nazisme)

Translators: Paul Burrell, Gabriel R. Ricci

Editors: Joseph Margolis, Tom Rockmore

ISBN: 0-87722-640-7