Julius Evola Against the Modern World
Julius Evola, an Italian philosopher and esotericist, stands as a significant figure in the traditionalist school of thought. His critique of modernity, rooted in the rejection of both liberalism and materialism, is crucial for understanding his worldview.
In this blog, we will explore his opposition to modern values, focusing on key points from his works, especially his 1950 text Orientations. Evola's message was clear: to confront the ruins of the modern world, we must look beyond mere politics and economics to rebuild the inner man.
The End of a Cycle
Evola begins by acknowledging that we live in a time of collapse, the end of a historical cycle. According to him, the hymns to progress, so common in modern societies, ring hollow.
He saw the responses to Anglo-American liberalism—whether from the Germans, Japanese, or Italians—as patchwork solutions to deeper issues. These responses, he argued, failed to discriminate between the essential and the accessory.
The ideological battles of the 20th century left the world in ruins. Evola believed that the focus on political parties, institutions, and slogans was misplaced. The essential question, for him, was not about economic systems or political programs. Instead, it was about whether real men—men of principle and character—could still be found in a world dominated by consumerism and shallow democracy.
The Task of Building Real Men
The modern world, according to Evola, is characterized by the supremacy of the lowest interests and the trivial pursuit of day-to-day pleasures. He calls for the construction of a new kind of man—one animated by a higher vision of life, fortified by an iron adherence to principles. This man must stand tall, internally fortified, giving himself form and order.
Evola’s emphasis on the inner man, the soul, and the principles that govern one's life is central to his philosophy. His concern was less with creating political movements and more with creating men who could live in a manner consistent with a higher ideal. This idea is tied to what he called the "legionary spirit," a sense of loyalty, brotherhood, and honor that transcends the material world.
Unlock the Depths of Philosophy
Get a free introduction to philosophy with Dr. Millerman's guide.
The Legionary Spirit
The legionary spirit, as Evola describes, is the attitude of someone who is willing to fight even when the battle seems lost. This spirit is not driven by a desire for personal gain or survival but by loyalty to higher ideals. Evola saw the world as divided between higher and lower types of men, not in a biological sense, but spiritually. He believed that true men were those who held their positions with unwavering commitment, refusing to compromise on their principles.
For Evola, this higher type of man was not interested in the comforts of bourgeois life or the self-preservation instincts of the modern age. Instead, he was driven by a sense of honor and shame, qualities that differentiated him from the lower, more materialistic man.
Anti-Liberalism and Anti-Modernity
One of Evola’s core messages is his rejection of both the bourgeois capitalist society and the socialist movements of the left. He criticized the middle-class myth of security and comfort, viewing it as a shallow and conformist existence. At the same time, he rejected the collectivism of socialism, seeing it as equally flawed.
Evola believed that real progress could only be made through an active impersonality, where the individual self is set aside in favor of a higher principle. This principle, according to Evola, should guide not only political life but every aspect of existence. The true man, for Evola, is not concerned with his own importance but with the work he is doing and the higher task he serves.
The Decline of the West
Evola’s critique of modernity is deeply connected to his view of history as a process of decline. He believed that liberalism, democracy, socialism, and communism were all part of a single process that led to the degeneration of Western civilization. According to Evola, the root of this decline was the rejection of tradition and the embrace of modern, anti-hierarchical values.
Western man, in Evola's view, had shattered the bonds of tradition and, in doing so, had lost his connection to the higher principles that once governed society. The individual, freed from tradition, was now atomized, reduced to a mere number in the mass of humanity. The rise of materialism and the sovereignty of the economy further accelerated this decline.
Start Exploring Political Philosophy
Dive into the roots of political thought with Dr. Millerman’s comprehensive course.
The Battle Against Materialism
Evola saw modern society as dominated by materialism, with both capitalism and socialism being two sides of the same coin. He believed that the focus on economic analysis and class struggle distracted from the more important task of building a higher order based on spiritual values. This order, he argued, would be hierarchical and based on noble qualities like dignity, rank, and command.
For Evola, the modern world had become too focused on the economic sphere, reducing life to a battle between capitalists and proletarians. He called for a rejection of this economic dominance and a return to an integral hierarchy that placed spiritual and heroic values above material concerns.
Opposition to Totalitarianism
Although Evola is often associated with far-right ideologies, he was critical of totalitarianism. He distinguished between what he called organic and totalitarian conceptions of the state. While he believed in a strong, hierarchical society, he rejected the notion of a totalitarian state that sought to control every aspect of life. Instead, he called for a more organic conception of the state, where the highest point of reference would be a new symbol of sovereignty and authority.
The Role of the Elite
Evola believed that the creation of a new world required the formation of a new elite. This elite would be defined not by blood or soil but by an adherence to a higher idea. For Evola, the real battle was not between nations or political parties but between ideas. The men of the new order would be united not by nationality but by their loyalty to an idea that transcended national boundaries.
The state, in this vision, would be governed by an elite that was committed to this higher order. These men would lead by example, embodying the principles of honor, loyalty, and courage that Evola held so dear.
Rejection of Darwinism, Psychoanalysis, and Existentialism
Evola’s opposition to modernity extended to the intellectual currents of his time, particularly Darwinism, psychoanalysis, and existentialism. He rejected Darwinism for reducing humanity to a mere biological species, stripped of its spiritual dimension. For Evola, man was not just another animal but a being capable of transcending his biological nature.
Similarly, he criticized psychoanalysis for its focus on the lower, subterranean parts of the soul. Evola believed in the possibility of a well-ordered soul, where reason and higher principles could govern desires and emotions. He saw psychoanalysis as overly focused on the lower, irrational aspects of human nature, at the expense of the higher, spiritual ones.
Finally, Evola rejected existentialism, which he saw as a philosophy of despair. Existentialism, with its focus on anxiety, meaninglessness, and the absurdity of existence, was for Evola a symptom of the modern crisis. In contrast, he believed that man could rise above this crisis by reconnecting with higher principles and living a life of nobility and purpose.
Religion and the Heroic Life
For Evola, religion was essential to a truly heroic conception of life. He believed that only a religious worldview could provide the foundation for a life of honor and courage. However, Evola did not advocate a return to traditional Christianity or any specific religious doctrine. Instead, he called for a more general acknowledgment of the spiritual dimension of life, which he believed had been lost in the modern world.
Evola argued that without a belief in something higher than this earthly existence, it was impossible to live a truly heroic life. He saw modernity as having stripped man of this higher vision, reducing life to the pursuit of comfort and security. In contrast, Evola believed that real men were those who were willing to sacrifice their lives for a higher cause, unafraid of death because they believed in a higher order.
Understand the Roots of Political Philosophy
Enroll in a course that covers the foundations of political thought with Dr. Millerman.
Conclusion
Julius Evola’s critique of modernity remains a powerful indictment of the values that dominate contemporary society. His rejection of materialism, liberalism, and socialism, along with his call for a return to spiritual and heroic values, continues to resonate with those who seek an alternative to the modern world.
Evola’s vision of a new elite, united by a commitment to higher principles, offers a stark contrast to the atomized, materialistic society in which we live. His focus on the inner man, the soul, and the importance of living a life of honor and courage, challenges us to rethink our priorities in a world that often seems devoid of meaning.
In the end, Evola’s message is clear: if we are to overcome the crisis of modernity, we must rebuild not just our institutions but ourselves. We must become real men, capable of standing upright among the ruins, and in doing so, create a new world based on nobility, dignity, and higher principles.