Is the essence of politics simply the existential distinction between friend and enemy?
In short: In his 1932 classic, Carl Schmitt argued that politics is defined by the potential for conflict. He rejected liberal attempts to sanitize political life, claiming that human nature is inherently agonistic. This provocative theory, rooted in a dark view of human existence, remains a cornerstone of modern political philosophy.
Published during the final days of the Weimar Republic, Carl Schmitt’s The Concept of the Political remains his most influential work. Schmitt, a German philosopher and jurist who joined the Nazi Party in 1933, posited that the political is fundamentally reducible to the distinction between friend and enemy. This is not merely a social disagreement but an existential divide, stemming from the ineradicable diversity of human beliefs, practices, and ways of life.
Schmitt’s work serves as a sharp critique of what he termed liberal-neutralist and utopian notions, which seek to remove warlike energy from the political sphere. He argued that conflict is an inescapable trait of human nature. To support this, Schmitt drew upon the pessimistic traditions of Catholic theology, specifically the concept of Original Sin. He suggested that modern secular society subconsciously mirrors these theological concerns, creating a metapolitics that he described as a metaphysics of evil.
The book’s origins and intent are subjects of intense scholarly debate. Originally appearing as a journal article in 1927, the 1932 edition included significant revisions. Scholars like Heinrich Meier have argued these changes were a direct response to critiques from Leo Strauss. Conversely, Karl Löwith suggested the revisions were opportunistic, reflecting Schmitt’s alignment with the Nazi Party. Furthermore, biographer Reinhard Mehring has challenged the idea that the work is deeply rooted in Catholic doctrine, noting that many Catholic theologians were actually outraged by Schmitt’s interpretation of human relations.
Today, the text is studied for its cogent critique of liberalism, particularly the argument that individual rights fail to justify the sacrifice required by the state. Whether viewed as a profound insight into the nature of power or a dangerous justification for authoritarianism, Schmitt’s work continues to force readers to confront the stark, often uncomfortable realities of political existence.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Concept of the Political
- Also: press.uchicago.edu — The Concept of the Political
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