Julius Evola

Julius Evola was a prominent Italian philosopher, esotericist, and cultural critic known for his Traditionalist and anti-modernist views, which were influenced by René Guénon, Oswald Spengler, and Arthur Schopenhauer. Evola's work spanned multiple disciplines, including philosophy, history, politics, and spirituality, and he was associated with various intellectual and cultural movements, such as Hermeticism, Theosophy, and Dadaism. His ideas have been linked to Fascist and National Socialist ideologies, and he was also influenced by Eastern spirituality, including Buddhism and Taoism. Evola's thought has been compared to that of other notable thinkers, such as Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Jung.

● Life and Work

Evola was born in Rome and studied engineering at the Sapienza University of Rome, but he soon became disillusioned with the academic establishment and turned to art and literature, influenced by Futurism and Dadaism. He was associated with the Italian Futurist movement, led by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, and was also influenced by the Bauhaus school and the Wiener Werkstätte. Evola's early work was marked by a fascination with Thelema and the Occult, and he was a member of the Ur Group, a mystical organization that explored Hermeticism and Alchemy. He was also interested in Eastern spirituality, including Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism, and was influenced by the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

● Philosophy and Ideology

Evola's philosophical thought was characterized by a rejection of modernism and a emphasis on Traditionalism, which he saw as a way to transcend the limitations of materialism and rationalism. He was influenced by the Perennialist school, which includes thinkers such as Aldous Huxley and Frithjof Schuon, and he saw the world as being in a state of spiritual decay, which could only be reversed through a return to traditional values and spiritual practices. Evola's ideas have been linked to Fascism and National Socialism, and he was a critic of Democracy and Liberalism, which he saw as being rooted in materialism and individualism. He was also influenced by the Conservative Revolution in Germany, which included thinkers such as Ernst Jünger and Carl Schmitt.

● Influences and Criticisms

Evola's work was influenced by a wide range of thinkers and intellectual movements, including Platonism, Aristotelianism, and Stoicism. He was also influenced by Eastern philosophy, including Taoism and Confucianism, and he saw the I Ching as a key text for understanding the nature of reality. Evola's ideas have been criticized by thinkers such as Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, who saw him as a representative of the Conservative Revolution and a proponent of authoritarianism. He has also been criticized by feminist thinkers, such as Simone de Beauvoir, who saw his ideas as being rooted in patriarchy and sexism. Evola's work has been compared to that of other notable thinkers, such as Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre, and he has been seen as a key figure in the development of postmodernism.

● Literary Career

Evola was a prolific writer and published numerous books and articles on a wide range of topics, including philosophy, history, politics, and spirituality. His most famous work is probably Revolt Against the Modern World, which is a comprehensive critique of modernism and a call to return to traditional values. He also wrote The Doctrine of Awakening, which is a study of Buddhism and its relationship to Western spirituality. Evola's work has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, and German, and he has been influential in the development of Traditionalist and esoteric thought. His ideas have been popularized by thinkers such as Aleister Crowley and Timothy Leary, and he has been seen as a key figure in the development of the counterculture.

● Political Involvement and Legacy

Evola was involved in Italian politics during the Fascist era and was a supporter of Benito Mussolini. He was also a critic of National Socialism and saw the Nazi Party as being rooted in materialism and racism. Evola's ideas have been influential in the development of the New Right and the Alt-Right, and he has been seen as a key figure in the development of white nationalism. His legacy is complex and contested, and he has been criticized by thinkers such as Noam Chomsky and Slavoj Žižek, who see him as a representative of reactionary and authoritarian thought. Despite this, Evola remains an important figure in the development of Traditionalist and esoteric thought, and his ideas continue to influence thinkers and intellectuals around the world, including Alexander Dugin and Alain de Benoist. Category:Italian philosophers