Walter Benjamin "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

“The true picture of the past flits by. The past can be seized only as an image which flashes up at the instant when it can be recognized and is never seen again. ‘The truth will not run away from us’: in the historical outlook of historicism these words of Gottfried Keller mark the exact point where historical materialism cuts through historicism. For every image of the past that is not recognized by the present as one of its own concerns threatens to disappear irretrievably. (The good tidings which the historian of the past brings with throbbing heart may be lost in a void the very moment he opens his mouth.)”

Walter Benjamin "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

This passage is interesting because it reminds me of the poet and philosopher George Santayana who said ” those who cannot remember  the past are dome to repeat it.”   The key here is not just to remember the image but what doe it mean. If we can recollect what happened in the past, but do not understand it we can not apply it to today’s conditions, In other words the information is useless. We must remember the past and its context so that materialism can not assign it a new or different meaning and value to it.  

Walter Benjamin: "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

“The mass is a matrix from which all traditional behavior toward works of art issues today in a new form. Quantity has been transmuted into quality. The greatly increased mass of participants has produced a change in the mode of participation. The fact that the new mode of participation first appeared in a disreputable form must not confuse the spectator. Yet some people have launched spirited attacks against precisely this superficial aspect. Among these, Duhamel has expressed himself in the most radical manner. What he objects to most is the kind of participation which the movie elicits from the masses. Duhamel calls the movie “a pastime for helots, a diversion for uneducated, wretched, worn-out creatures who are consumed by their worries a spectacle which requires no concentration and presupposes no intelligence which kindles no light in the heart and awakens no hope other than the ridiculous one of someday becoming a ‘star’ in Los Angeles.” Clearly, this is at bottom the same ancient lament that the masses seek distraction whereas art demands concentration from the spectator. That is a commonplace.”

http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm

I chose this passage because it explains how society has lost its meaning and understanding of art. Our social mentality has become one of mindless consumerism in which all we care about is quantity and not quality. Just like the mechanized transformation of the food industries, mechanized art focuses in providing quantity with no regards to the true qualities of art. I love Duhamel’s statement about movies “a pastime for helots” . Today more than ever movies have become just a way of distracting your mind as oppose to engaging it.

1. What is the difference between cult value and exhibition value in art? How does Benjamin see these values in relation to politics?
The cult value refers to the art status in magic and rituals; exhibition value refers to the content or the "information" contained within the piece. Both values are always present in any art work. Benjamin believes that political ideology like fascism attempt to recreate "cult value" because it supports social order by making it seem mystical, when in reality the prevailing form of  value is exhibition value.

2. What is the difference between Erfahrung and Erlebnisse? How does it relate to art?

Erfahrung means integrated experience and it occurs by understanding the historical origins of objects that you come into contact with.  Erlebnisse is isolated experience and that is when objects are encountered in isolation.

Mechanical reproduction changes the experience of art from an integrated experience to isolated experience.

3. Explain some of the positive and negative effects of the destruction of the "aura" in art.

On of the positive effects of “aura” destruction is that it destroys the mystical aspect of art and   it allows us to approach art in a more realistic way. It also removes the supernatural domination that in effect serves to protecting dominant classes in society.

The negative is that when you destroy the “aura” in art you destroy its unique existence and It takes away from the sense of mystery and otherworldliness  which the person experiences upon beholding the work of art.

4. How would you judge or evaluate the impact of forms of mass culture like film in contemporary life? Have they changed human perception? Are they are important part of creating political consciousness in the public?

I believe the impact of mass culture in our lives is so great that   no qualitative definition can be given to describe its influence. Much like in the pass, today it is used to control and shape public opinions on all aspects of our lives. Mass culture serves up the illusion of different political parties in the U.S and if we take a close examination of the conditions of our modern day proletarian, nothing has change, except the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. It seems that mass culture has given the capitalistic system an advantage to change our human perception; just watch TV or open a magazine, look at the images and analyze what they mean. I guaranteed that they all sell a product or project a certain look that we must posses in order to be happy, and that requires the purchase of an item or several to obtain that look. Unfortunately mass culture does not create political consciousness in the public, on the contrary it is used to steer us like mindless sheep in a herd to what ever direction they wants to go. It could be a vote for Bush, Obama, or to buy products or get behind a certain movement, we are presented with the illusion of having all the options when in reality we are being steered.

Pain

“Meanwhile we have learned a hard lesson concerning the relative degree of security that money provides. The years in which each person could call himself a millionaire are not far behind us, and whoever today expresses a wish for a million would also be required to stipulate that this presupposes no new inflation or that the money is to be spent in one of the smaller neutral states.”

Ernst Jünger. P. 24

This passage means that money can not provide security for people. It is just a passing thing that changes over time and can become meaningless. Normally people think that money can bring happiness to them, but more often than not it only creates misery.

I chose this passage because it applies today just as it did when Mr. Jünger wrote it. I can remember when a million dollars was considered to be sufficient money to last a person a life time. Nowadays it’s only enough to buy a decent house in the northeast of the United States, and in a couple of years you would have paid in taxes whatever was leftover. Moreover, money it self does not bring happiness, even if you win the lottery.  Statistics show that 70 percent of all lottery winners will squander away their winnings in a few years.

1. I disagree with Jünger's thesis that pain is the central experience of life. Although pain is a very important part of our lives, I believe that we spend most of our lives seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

2. The phrase "post-liberal” refers to the concept that we are past the idea that liberalism is going to solve all social problems and that advances in  technical and material development would lead to a utopia where all the countries in the world would resolve their differences in a peaceful manner. In other words, we now that the liberal philosophy does not lead to what it promises that good will always triumph over evil. The liberals now define progress in terms of material wealth and measures of things like income level, education level, and life expectancy.

3. Jünger believes that photography is the “evil eye” because he thinks is an expression of our distinctive way of see. He believes that the fast bombardment of violent images desensitizes people. I agree with him, just look at the best video games: Call of Duty Black Ops.- The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.- Gears of War 2. – Homefront. - Saints Row.

4. What is the relationship between specialized education and the "worker type."  I think the relationship is that by specializing education, you isolate the individual form the rest of the body of knowledge; As a result you end up with a person who is skilled on one particular craft like an assembly “worker type”. He may know only how to install the door of a car but does not know about the rest of the assembly process. 

5. How does submission to totalitarian authorities protect an individual from pain??

He believes that the best way to avoid pain is by detaching  ones body  and submitting to the totalitarian  authorities; in that way you will become part of the society and the society can be looked and used as an “object” without feelings

Nazism

Hitler's speech-Triumph of the will :

“the people in ever
greater numbers have joined this
leadership and subordinated themselves.
(applause)
The German people are happy in the
knowledge that the constantly changing
leadership has now been replaced by a
fixed pole; a force which considers
itself the representative of the best
blood, and, knowing this, has elevated
themselves to the leadership of this
Nation and is determined to keep this
leadership, to use it to the best
advantage and never to relinquish it
again. ...
(applause)”

I chose this quote because it shows how by 1934, after being in power for one year, Hitler is telling the country that he does not plan on giving up the power. He’s is essentially telling them that he will be a dictator and they all applaud him!!!  He is also made his reference of what’s to come by saying that he is a force which considers  itself the representative of the best blood.

1. What were some of the major reasons that led to the rise of Nazi Germany?

One of the contributing factors that lead to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany was the Great Depression that hit worldwide as a result of the crash of the stock market in the USA. As a result there where mass bank failures and Germany’s economic recovery was tie to the US economy. Another reason was the DNVP endorsement of the Nazi as a junior political partner that gave them political legitimacy. Also the representative form of government instituted by the Weimar republic made it possible for a party to control government without winning the majority of the votes. However I would cite Hitler‘s   release from jail after serving only one a despite committing what could clearly be called treason. Had he remained in Jail for a decade or two, we probably wouldn’t be talking about him in the same manner.

2. How did Nazis resolve conflicts between workers and owners and why was this attractive model for business executives? They took control over wages and that appeased the workers, and for the owners they also controlled the prices of raw materials and got rid of the workers unions and replaced them with a national union control by the government.   I think it was an attractive business model for the executives because it guaranteed a profit at the end of the day and that is what they care the most about.

3. What is the significance of the phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei?" the significance is that it was both true and a lie. It was a lie because it means "work makes (one) free," meaning "work sets you free" or "work liberates” but in reality they where never going to let them go or “free” them to return to their homes. However, it was true because they where going to work them until they die and when you die you are free from working.

4. What is state capitalism and how does it relate to Nazi Germany? It is a form of capitalism where the state is in control but allows the business to make and keep the profits it makes. the Nazi regime was a form of “state capitalism.

5. How would you evaluate the psychological causes of anti-semitism in the context of German society? I believe that without a Hitler, the German people would not have done the atrocity that they did. I think the reason he made them the target of his anger was because they where the ones holding the money, they where the bankers. Most teachers of Marxist class-war politics in Germany where Jews; and they where Nazi opponents. That is not to say that the majority of the German population where not anti-Semite

Max Weber’s “Politics as a Vocation”

The passage I chose from Max Weber’s “Politics as a Vocation” lecture is:

“There are two ways of making politics one's vocation: Either one lives 'for' politics or one lives 'off' politics. By no means is this contrast an exclusive one. The rule is, rather, that man does both, at least in thought, and certainly he also does both in practice. He who lives 'for' politics makes politics his life, in an internal sense. Either he enjoys the naked possession of the power he exerts, or he nourishes his inner balance and self-feeling by the consciousness that his life has meaning in the service of a 'cause.' In this internal sense, every sincere man who lives for a cause also lives off this cause. The distinction hence refers to a much more substantial aspect of the matter, namely, to the economic. He who strives to make politics a permanent source of income lives 'off' politics as a vocation, whereas he who does not do this lives 'for' politics. Under the dominance of the private property order, some--if you wish-- very trivial preconditions must exist in order for a person to be able to live 'for' politics in this economic sense. Under normal conditions, the politician must be economically independent of the income politics can bring him. This means, quite simply, that the politician must be wealthy or must have a personal position in life which yields a sufficient income.”

I like this passage because the message is very clear and simple. Even dough all politician will say they become politicians to serve the people, in reality they do it for personal gains. Nowadays people become politicians because of it is lucrative and for monetary compensation. A few of them don’t need the money, they do it for the power. For example, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has more money than I can count. He certainly does not need the money, but his ego needs the power.  I personally don’t believe that nowadays there are people who are interested in making politics one's vocation for the main purpose of serving the public. I say this because every politician has the eye on the next higher office, and rarely are satisfied with their level achievement on the political latter.

The Weimar Republic

From the first par I choused

Article 4.
The generally recognised rules of international law are valid as binding elements of German Reich law.

I find it interesting that they choused to include international law in the constitution. To me it means that the Weimar republic was trying to elicit a favorable view from the international community by stating that it will abide by their laws

From the second par I picked

Article 21.
Members of parliament represent the entire nation. They have to follow nothing but their conscience and they are not bound to instructions.

I choused this article because I find it funny. On the one hand they are to represent the people and on the other hand they are to follow their conscience. In my opinion I want somebody that is representing me to follow my wishes and not necessarily his or her conscience because as unique individuals that we are, we may disagree on a topic or principal and if you follow you conscience against my wishes, you are not representing me.

1) What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation?

From my understanding the biggest disadvantage that a proportional representation system has is that it fragments the leadership of the government in to too many parties and as a result they can not keep the government together and can not run it effectively. It also allows for a minority to rule the majority like in the case of the Nazis which took control of the government even dough it only got less than 30 percent of the votes.   

            On the other hand some of the advantages of proportional representation include: giving a voice in government to minorities groups therefore increasing the number of political parties. It would reduces “wasted votes” and produce higher turnout at the polls because people would know that their votes really count.

  2) What were the leading causes of the decline of the Weimar Republic?

The main problem that leads to the decline of the Weimar Republic was the bad economy. The hyperinflation, huge national dept and the effects of the great depression contributed in the USA contributed to the   horrible economic environment in the  Weimar Republic. Another problem was the proportional representation for the reasons stated above.

3) What is hyperinflation? It is  a very rapid escalation of prices  for goods and services. For example when in Germany 1923 a pound of bread cost 3 billion Marks.  Or when on December 2008, inflation in Zimbabwe was estimated at 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion percent (that's 6.5 x 10¹⁰⁸ % which is 65 followed by 107 zeros) soon after Zimbabwe was forced abandon its currency and create a new form of currency.

4) How would you judge the Weimar Constitution as compared to the American Constitution?

 I believe it the Weimar Constitution is very similar to the American. There are some provisions in the Weimar Constitution that differ from the US but over all I think is what you do with it that makes the difference. Look at what Bush started and Obama continued under the patriot act, the erosion of our civil liveries in the name of national security. I guess the short answer would be that the American Constitution is better because we are still around and the Weimar republic is not.

The Junius Pamphlet

Sparticists carry the red flag through the streets of Berlin in their call for a revolution on 1 December 1918.

What then has changed in this respect when the war broke out? Have private property, capitalist exploitation and class rule ceased to exist? Or have the propertied classes in a spell of patriotic fervour declared: in view of the needs of the war we hereby turn over the means of production, the earth, the factories and the mills therein, into the possession of the people? Have they relinquished the right to make profits out of these possessions? Have they set aside all political privileges, will they sacrifice them upon the altar of the fatherland, now that it is in danger? It is, to say the least, a rather naive hypothesis, and sounds almost like a story from a kindergarten primer. And yet the declaration of our official leaders that the class struggle has been suspended permits no other interpretation. Of course nothing of the sort has occurred. Property rights, exploitation and class rule, even political oppression in all its Prussian thoroughness, have remained intact. The cannons in Belgium and in Eastern Prussia have not had the slightest influence upon the fundamental social and political structure of Germany.
  Rosa Luxemburg The Junius Pamphlet Chapter 6

The meaning of this passage is very clear. It tell us that the class struggle does not ceased to exist just because of the war. And yet the official leaders proclaim that it has to be put aside in order to unite the nation. However they only ask   the working class to put their differences aside for the good of the nation but do not demand the same from the ruling class. That tactic continues to be play even  today. The people in power continue to tell us that we must make sacrifices for the good of our nation and to maintain our freedom. At the same time they don't send their kids to war but they  makes millions of dollars on defense contracts, weapon manufacturing and with companies like Halliburton who billed the Pentagon $4.18 billion dollars  for " logistics work"   in Iraq and Kuwait.

 
 1-  Luxemburg believed that the wars of 1871 affect the wars in 1914 because the war of 1870 split Europe into two opposing camps and established the rule of militarism in the lives of the European peoples. In turn this created a period of insane competitive armament and that lead to the 1914 world war.
2-  Luxemburg  makes it clear that the SPD placed   "Russian despotism" as a danger to German freedom.
3- The relationship between nationalism and capitalism according to some scholars is that nationalism is a product of capitalism. I believe this because one of the first things that lights the fire of revolution for freedom is people’s desire to own their land and the fruits of their labor. After you become an owner with something to protect just like your neighbors, now your loyalty is not to the king or queen, is to you land (you r Nation) However, Nationalism tries to keep capitalism tame because if left unchecked, capitalism will destroy the very nation in peruse of capital.
4. Luxemburg believes that the war supports the business interests of steel and the banks because those are the two industries that profit from it. The steel industry supplies the weapons and materials needed to carry out the war and the banks supply the capital to by the goods.