Discuss the Ways in Which Fascist Values, Views, Attitudes, or Actions Differ from Those

Discuss the ways in which Fascist Values, Views, Attitudes, or Actions Differ from Those Expressed by Enlightment Thinkers

Enlightment thinkers and their beliefs and Fascism beliefs are on two completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Whereas the Enlightment thinkers were gentle, just and promoted equality, the fascist followers were harsh, unjust, degrading and brutal. The fascists believed that there were severe hierarchies amongst people on earth and the Philosophes believed that everyone was equal and there was no need for leaders or rulers. These differences came up clearly in Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s reign in Italy over the course of the 100+ years following the end of the Enlightment era.

The fascist beliefs included some values of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinists stated that life was a game of survival of the fittest, and that the strong were made to lead and overshadow and dominate the weak people otherwise they would be wiped out and taken over by the racially inferior people. These views were mirrored by Hitler in his book, “Mein Kampf” in which he stated, “Everything we admire on earth… is the creative product of only a few people, and perhaps originally of only one race; our whole culture depends upon them. If they perish, the beauties of earth will be buried… All great cultures of the past perished because the original creative race was destroyed…” (Sources, 211).

They also believed, much like the Germans and Italians, that war was healthy, necessary and it helped divide the strong from the weak, As Benito Mussolini stated himself in one of his articles to the Italian Encyclopedia, “War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have the courage to meet it” (Sources, 208). On the contrary, the enlightment thinkers believed that all people were equal and were put on the Earth by God to live according to the Natural Laws, which were that no one person was superior to another...