Adam Knowles

Announcement for academic event: Disgust and the Question of the Human Workshop ETH Zürich, 18th of May 2026 Venue: ETH Zürich, Villa Hatt, Freudenbergstrasse 112, 8044 Zürich Organisation: Nadia Mazouz and Adam Knowles

Excited to announce the workshop "Disgust and the Question of the Human" co-organized with Nadia Mazouz (ETH Zurich) on 18th May 2026. Speakers include @dittemunch.bsky.social, Noga Resh, and Zainabu Jallo.

Info and registration here: ephil.ethz.ch/en/news-und-....

Event announcement at the University of Zurich: Speaker Series: Holocaust and Genocide Studies Die Zukunft der Vergangenheitsbewältigung in der Schweiz 19.03.2026, 18:15 – 19:45, KO2-F-180 Moderation: Karen Roth-Krauthammer – Omanut Speakers: Raphael Gross – Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin Jakob Tanner – FS für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte, UZH Moira Pinkus – Historisches Seminar, UZH

Save the date. Join us in two weeks at the University of Zurich for a podium discussion "Die Zukunft der Vergangenheitsbewältigung in der Schweiz" with Raphael Gross, Jakob Tanner and Moira Pinkus moderated by Karen Roth-Krauthammer. Mar. 19th, 18:15-19.45, KO2-F-180.
www.uzh.ch/de/events/ag...

Final Reminder for anyone close to Zurich: Join us for a lecture by @christina-morina.bsky.social this evening at the University of Zurich!

Am 26.02. hält @christina-morina.bsky.social (Bielefeld) einen Vortrag zu „Mehrheitsgesellschaften und Judenverfolgung in europäischer Perspektive: Geschichte und Erinnerung” in KO2-F-180, 18:15-19:45 an der Universität Züirch. Der Vortrag ist gesponsert von der Balzan-Stiftung und offen für alle.

Am 26.02. hält @christina-morina.bsky.social (Bielefeld) einen Vortrag zu „Mehrheitsgesellschaften und Judenverfolgung in europäischer Perspektive: Geschichte und Erinnerung” in KO2-F-180, 18:15-19:45 an der Universität Züirch. Der Vortrag ist gesponsert von der Balzan-Stiftung und offen für alle.

Final reminder! Tomorrow Debórah Dwork and I will be in conversation on the topic "Holocaust Studies: Past, Present and Future" from 18:15-19:45 (KO2-F-180).

The even is open to the public and no registration is necessary. The full list of events in the series is here: www.uzh.ch/de/events/ag...

On Feb. 19th Debórah Dwork (CUNY) and I will discuss "Holocaust Studies: Past, Present and Future" at 18:15 at the University of Zurich. Participation is free for all and open to the public. For other events in the series (including lectures in German) see www.uzh.ch/de/events/ag....

Wir (@hist-theorie.bsky.social) freuen uns auf die Zusammenarbeit und sind gespannt auf die gekreuzte Perspektiven!

Somewhere in the range of the preposthumous.

Missverstandene Radikale – the Diasporist Armin Mohler und die Beschönigung des Faschismus

„Promiskuitiv und aasfressend, zeige der Faschismus eine bemerkenswerte Fähigkeit, Widersprüche in Spannung zu halten, ohne sie auflösen zu müssen.“ Adam Knowles schreibt über Armin Mohler, den „geistigen Vater” der Neuen Rechten: thediasporist.de/de/missverst...

In this context the word is borrowed from Ludwig Klages.

Guter Beitrag von @davi-cath.hcommons.social.ap.brid.gy über das jüngste Buch von Dagmar Herzog. Auch eine Gelegenheit daran zu erinnern, dass Herzog einen Vortrag an der Uni Zürich am 01.06. hält. Am 02.06. findet ein Workshop mit Herzog über „Eugenische Phantasmen“ statt. Mehr dazu demnächst.

Guter Beitrag von @davi-cath.hcommons.social.ap.brid.gy über das jüngste Buch von Dagmar Herzog. Auch eine Gelegenheit daran zu erinnern, dass Herzog einen Vortrag an der Uni Zürich am 01.06. hält. Am 02.06. findet ein Workshop mit Herzog über „Eugenische Phantasmen“ statt. Mehr dazu demnächst.

There is a lot going on this diagram.

Indeed, there's an entire sweeping Greco-German fascistoid imaginary built into that diagram.

Woe be to whomever decides to write the book that can make sense of that diagram.

Taxonomic diagram of intellectual history tracing the lineage of various strands of thinking published in the ethnonationalist journal "Völkische Kultur" in 1934 in Werner Deubel's essay "Graecogermanisch--Graecojudaisch." In the chart the fundamental divide is between a "Greco-Jewish" lineage that leads to the "downfall of the soul" and a "Greco-Germanic" lineage that leads to the "German Cultural Revolution." Plato is placed in a lineage that leads to a "logocentric system" crystalized by Kant and ultimately resulting in Americanism and Bolshevism. The chart places Kant, Goethe, Schiller, and Romanticism as the critical nodal points in the movement towards downfall (Kant, Goethe in part) and Cultural Revolution (Goethe, in part, Schiller, and Romantics).

Since Plato is in the news: What was Plato's status at the Nazified university? This 1934 diagram from the journal "Völkische Kultur" shows one response. It puts Plato in a cosmopolitan lineage of degradation leading to Kant which was, in a common antisemitic trope, portrayed as suspiciously Jewish.

I wouldn't necessary attribute it to the Nazis. This example is indeed from 1934, but it goes back to a longer line of thought among völkisch thinkers which circulated in the 1920s. Johann Chapoutot's book "Greeks, Roman, Germans" provides some context.

Just had a look at the Barr Diagram. Fascinating comparison!

Since the Main Office science collected course lists, professors often shifted to bland, inconspicuous titles to avoid unnecessary attention. In any case, the major work of policing professors (who by 1938 were reliable Nazis anyways) was done through denunciations.

Microfilm image of a course listing from the Kiel University in 1939/40 in German containing a detailed listed courses held in 1939-40. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The Hauptamt Wissenschaft (Main Office of Science) would collect lists of courses in "ideologically critical" fields--which included philosophy. Here, for example, the list from Kiel in Winter Semester 1939/40. Lots of Plato being taught alongside Kant, race science classes.

Higher education under National Socialism never resulted in uniform curricular policies. Decisions about what could be taught were highly contingent. They depended on a professor's status, political backing and uni leadership. Martina Steber speaks of "contained plurality" in a different context.

Taxonomic diagram of intellectual history tracing the lineage of various strands of thinking published in the ethnonationalist journal "Völkische Kultur" in 1934 in Werner Deubel's essay "Graecogermanisch--Graecojudaisch." In the chart the fundamental divide is between a "Greco-Jewish" lineage that leads to the "downfall of the soul" and a "Greco-Germanic" lineage that leads to the "German Cultural Revolution." Plato is placed in a lineage that leads to a "logocentric system" crystalized by Kant and ultimately resulting in Americanism and Bolshevism. The chart places Kant, Goethe, Schiller, and Romanticism as the critical nodal points in the movement towards downfall (Kant, Goethe in part) and Cultural Revolution (Goethe, in part, Schiller, and Romantics).

Since Plato is in the news: What was Plato's status at the Nazified university? This 1934 diagram from the journal "Völkische Kultur" shows one response. It puts Plato in a cosmopolitan lineage of degradation leading to Kant which was, in a common antisemitic trope, portrayed as suspiciously Jewish.

Many thanks for the comments and for reading the piece!

Misunderstood Radicals - The Ideas Letter Adam Knowles maps how the Swiss philosopher Armin Mohler—a post-WWII apologist of fascism and self-styled theorist of the “Conservative Revolution”—helped launder fascist-adjacent thinkers into respec...

My new essay on the New Right and its relationship to historical fascism has been published at the Ideas Letter @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/the-ge...

Perhaps the work of @evianeleidig.com and her book The Women of the Far Right www.evianeleidig.com/women-of-the...?

Announcement for lecture series on Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Zurich.

Excited to announce upcoming public talks and panel discussions on "Holocaust and Genocide Studies" at the University of Zurich which I have organized in cooperation with @zeitgeschichte-bie.bsky.social. Save the dates! @deborahdwork.bsky.social, @christina-morina.bsky.social

Announcement for a talk by Dagmar Herzog entitled "Eugenische Phantasmen - Die lange Vor- und Nachgeschichte der NS-"Euthanasie"-Morde" on 1st June, 18:30-20:00, KOL F-101.

In session 5 Dagmar Herzog will present "Eugenische Phantasmen: Die lange Vor- und Nachgeschichte der NS-"Euthanasie"-Morde" on 1st June, 18:30-20:00, KOL F-101. Co-Organized with Franziska Felder, Institut für Erziehungswissenschaft (UZH). @zeitgeschichte-bie.bsky.social

Announcement for a talk by Anne Knowles "Where was the Holocaust?" on 21st May 18:15-19:45 at the UZH Main Building (room tba).

In session 4 Anne Knowles will present "Where was the Holocaust?" on 21st May 18:15-19:45 at the UZH Main Building (room tba). @zeitgeschichte-bie.bsky.social

Announcement for a panel discussion with Raphael Gross, Jakob Tanner, Moira Pinkus and moderated by Karen Roth-Krauthammer on "Die Zukunft der Vergangenheitsbewältigung in der Schweiz." 19th March, 18:15-19:45 at the UZH Main Building (room tba).

Session 3 is a panel discussion with Raphael Gross, Jakob Tanner, Moira Pinkus and moderated by Karen Roth-Krauthammer on "Die Zukunft der Vergangenheitsbewältigung in der Schweiz." 19th March, 18:15-19:45 at the UZH Main Building (room tba). @zeitgeschichte-bie.bsky.social