SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL HYPOTHESES ON NAZI GERMANY: IV.

The article analyzes the fully developed "rationalistic" and "irrationalistic" thought and action patterns in the German culture. "Rationalism" and "irrationalism" are vague terms themselves. They are used here to designate a set of psychologically related thought and action patterns. Thus certain "advanced" modes of thought and behavior may be called "rationalistic," while "archaic" modes of thought and action may be called "irrationalistic." In German culture, fully developed "rationalistic" and "irrationalistic" thought and action patterns were rather strikingly found side by side. Positive science," "objectivity," "sober realism" was highly valued. In German scientific discussion, one often-encountered high preoccupation with the terms employed, the methods of investigation to be applied, etc. There was a tendency to be elaborate on definitions, which were very frequently regarded as true or false rather than convenient or inconvenient. One factor contributing to the "anti-logical" aspect of German "irrationalism" is the pervasive presence of "unresolved contradictions" in widespread German character structures.