Two German ideologies

The article analyzes the axiological oppositions (dichotomies) of two German ideologies - state-nationalist and existential-humanistic. The work is aimed at identifying the philosophical and ideological foundations of the history of Germany in the XIX - first half of the XX centuries. They are connected, first of all, with the struggle of two German ideologies that asserted opposite axiological values. The task is to identify those essential accents of values that inspired some Germans to aggressive and violent activity, and others to rather the opposite activity. The first axiological opposition of ideologies is almost anti-Christianity and Christianity. The doubtfulness of Hegel’s “Lutheranism” and the spiritual Christianity of Francis of Assisi and Hesse are shown. The second opposition is brutality and humanity. The arguments of Hegel’s brutality and rigidity and the humane motives of Hesse's ideology are presented. The third is militarism and anti-militarism. The article shows the assessment of wars by a number of German thinkers, Hegel and the reverse assessment by Hesse. It shows Hesse’ s struggle to awaken a sense of responsibility among the German people after 1945. The fourth opposition is revolutionism and anti-revolutionism in two ideologies. The fifth is the racism and nationalism of the German thinkers, Hegel and Hesse’ s anti-racism and internationalism. The sixth dichotomy is the totalitarian spirit and the anti-existentialism of Hegel and humanism, as well as Hesse’s existentialism. Hesse defends a person’s personal choice, personal path, sometimes even in spite of the state, society, nation. In conclusion, the repeatability of ideologies and historical events is justified. The dichotomies of nationalism and globalism, fanaticism and pragmatism and others are shown; the change of the principles of existence and types of morality in the “spiritless” world. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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