GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

6ia ETHICS AND POLITIC*: THE MODERN!
runs the unconscious argument, 1 which, whatever the
guise of political or sociological doctrine in which it
happens to clothe itsel*-the maintenance of old traditions,
the return to a simpler mode of life, the preservation of
racial purity, the "clean-up" of moral licence or political
corruption, or shortly, simply, and mysteriously "the
salvation of society" underlies the reactionary movements
of the contemporary world. It is of a Fascism so inspired
and conceived that Bcrtrand Russell has remarked:
"There is no philosophy of Fascism; there is only a psycho-
analysis."
Or, again, there is the communist analysis of Fascism
which represents it as the final phase of Capitalism.
Capitalism in extremis* unable any longer without undermining
hs own foundations to make the concessions which
the growing power of the workers leads them to demand,
abandons the pretence of political democracy and becomes
openly and oppressively reactionary. Capitalism in this
phase cannot afford to bend for fear it break, and with
its back to the wall takes a rigid stand in defence of its
possessions. A rigidly defensive Capitalism means the
destruction of democracy, the suppression of liberty and
the oppression of the workers.
Favourable Accounts of Origins of Fascism. These
are hostile diagnoses of Fascism. Writers favourable to
Fascism see the movement in a very different light* It
signalizes, for them, a new awakening of the human spirit,
an awakening which has given birth to a movement
comparable in value and importance to the R<
Adopting the standpoint of a protagonist ofItalian Fa
we shall point to a Europe which has been dominated since
classical times by two streams of influence, the Greek and
the Roman. The Greek element in European culture
stands for speculation, rationalism, scepticism, experi-
l Th*t
remark of
the word
interesting testimony.