Against the Robots

So Onfray read a book that reveals the fabrication of Ernst Jünger… Michel Vanoosthuyse: Fascism and Pure Literature . It reveals—according to the self-proclaimed philosopher of sensuality—that Jünger was always a fascist and that he spent years, a large part of his life, half a century, erasing the traces of those fascist years. Anyone who knew Ernst Jünger, even remotely, can only smile at these statements. Ernst Jünger fabricating his life for posterity is grotesque. Jünger was always the antithesis of this Machiavellian figure that Onfray thought he had uncovered in a book. Finally realizing that this book by Mr. Vanoosthuyse was published by Agone made me smile. One might have hoped that Mr. Vanoosthuyse would spend more time learning from Jünger than conducting a witch hunt against him. The back cover is singularly uninspired, ending with the words: "what the entry of an author with a fascist past into 'pure' literature entails." What does that even mean? Jünger is the only right-wing author (I'm summarizing here the thinking of those left-wing gentlemen who label anyone a fascist at the drop of a hat) to enter the literary world? What is pure literature? Left-wing literature? It's a bad start for Agone, who, right from the back cover, aren't exactly demonstrating great editorial skill…

As for Onfray, it becomes clear throughout the article that only one thing troubles him—and from this perspective, one could understand him—it is freedom, the extraordinary freedom of Jünger at every age, in every era, right up to his final days. Michel Onfray understands nothing of Jünger's freedom. And because he understands nothing of it, he desires to hate it. He desires to show that it is a subterfuge. And Jünger spent half a century crafting it.

Because it must have taken a lifetime of effort for Michel Onfray to fall for it. It took this book for him to finally see the light, as he himself admits. One can only laugh; Michel Onfray is a charlatan when he wants to be. And he takes us for fools. Who will believe for a single second that he ever liked Jünger? If Onfray says he likes Jünger, it's because he's showing off. He's putting on a show. He's pontificating. He wants to make his point. I am. I think. Open-mindedness. Ecumenism. Introspection. Critical thinking. Tolerance again. Tolerance always. A clear conscience. Yes, that's all it is now. Michel Onfray could spend several lifetimes erasing the traces, but it will be easy to unearth all the times he pretended.

It's a shame, because Michel Onfray is also capable of saying things that don't align with his own camp, his political leanings, or his family. He sometimes manages to slip through the net and recognize honesty in his opponents. But he always has to let himself go, always have to shrink back, always have to seek media attention, always have to put on a show… What a waste. It's hard to understand how Michel Onfray can find any interest in Michel Vanoosthuyse's tiny, accusatory book… The impression it gives is akin to that of a beautiful, shiny-coated dog wallowing in the mud.