The Perception of Chosenness: An Unscientific, Unhistorical, and Nonsensical Proto-Mindset of Fascism at its Zenith

[responsivevoice_button voice=”UK English Female” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]

The Perception of Chosenness: An Unscientific, Unhistorical, and Nonsensical Proto-Mindset of Fascism at its Zenith

Abstract

This paper critically examines the concept of “chosenness” as perceived by certain groups, arguing that its unscientific, unhistorical, and fundamentally irrational manifestations constitute a crucial proto-mindset for the development and extreme expression of fascism. While acknowledging the diverse and sometimes ethically grounded interpretations of chosenness in various cultures, this analysis focuses specifically on its perversion into an exclusionary, supremacist, and aggressive ideology.

We contend that when chosenness transcends a sense of responsibility or unique cultural identity to embrace inherent, unchallengeable superiority, it relies on fabricated historical narratives, pseudoscientific justifications, and illogical reasoning, thereby serving as a foundational psychological and ideological precursor to the authoritarian, expansionist, and genocidal tendencies inherent in fascism.

This paper will deconstruct these problematic underpinnings, illustrating how the perception of chosenness, at its most virulent, culminates in the darkest expressions of collective delusion and institutionalized violence.

1. Introduction: The Enduring Appeal and Perversion of Chosenness

The human desire for meaning, identity, and belonging often gravitates towards narratives of unique distinction. Among these, the notion of “chosenness”—the belief that a particular group has been specially selected or endowed with unique qualities, a divine mission, or an inherent superiority—holds a powerful and enduring appeal. Across diverse cultures and historical epochs, communities have articulated versions of chosenness, ranging from a moral responsibility to uphold certain values to a perceived genetic or spiritual exceptionalism. However, not all forms of chosenness are benign, and indeed, some have served as fertile ground for grave pathologies.

This paper argues that a specific, pernicious interpretation of chosenness—one characterized by its unscientific, unhistorical, and fundamentally irrational foundations—functions as a vital “proto-mindset” for the emergence and extreme articulation of fascism. We are not concerned here with ethically grounded forms of chosenness that emphasize duty, moral example, or unique cultural contributions within a framework of universal human dignity. Instead, our focus is on the perversion of chosenness: its transformation into a doctrine of inherent, indelible supremacy that justifies the subjugation, marginalization, or annihilation of “unchosen” or “inferior” others. This specific iteration of chosenness, at its “pictorial” or most extreme ideological zenith, provides the psychological and narrative bedrock upon which fascist movements construct their worldviews, their calls for action, and their ultimate atrocities.

The core thesis is that the perception of chosenness, when divorced from empirical evidential support, historical accuracy, and logical consistency, and instead rooted in myth, dogma, and a manufactured sense of racial or national destiny, actively cultivates the exclusionary, aggressive, and dehumanizing pathologies essential to the fascist project.

We will explore how these “unscientific,” “unhistorical,” and “nonsensical” elements do not merely accompany such chosenness narratives but are, in fact, integral to their construction and their destructive force.

2. Deconstructing Problematic Chosenness: Beyond Responsibility to Supremacy

To understand chosenness as a proto-mindset of fascism, we must first delineate the specific, problematic interpretation under scrutiny. Ethically responsible chosenness often frames selection as a burden or a moral exemplification, as seen in some interpretations of Jewish monotheism where chosenness implies a covenant of responsibility and a moral mission to the world, rather than an inherent superiority for domination. Similarly, some national identities might perceive a unique historical role or cultural contribution without necessarily asserting supremacy over others.

However, the chosenness that serves as a fascist precursor stands in stark contrast. It is characterized by:

1. Inherent, Immutable Superiority: The chosen group is not merely unique but inherently superior—genetically, racially, spiritually, or culturally—by virtue of some immutable trait. This superiority is often framed as a divine decree or a natural evolutionary outcome.
2. Exclusive Destiny: The chosen group possesses a unique, often triumphalist, destiny to dominate, lead, or cleanse the world. This destiny often entails territorial expansion, the imposition of their will, or the elimination of perceived threats.
3. Absolute Righteousness: The actions of the chosen group, particularly in pursuit of their destiny, are deemed inherently just and beyond moral reproach by external standards. Their morality is self-referential and absolute.
4. Dehumanization of the “Other”: Conversely, those outside the chosen group are often cast as inferior, degenerate, parasitic, or existential threats. Their existence is frequently problematized, justifying their subjugation, expulsion, or extermination to preserve the purity or ascendancy of the chosen.

This extreme form of chosenness shifts from a sense of duty to a claim of entitlement, from cultural distinction to racial supremacy, and from moral exemplification to aggressive expansionism. It is this specific, supremacist articulation that we identify as a dangerous ideological precursor.

3. The Unscientific Underpinnings: Fabricating Natural Order

The claim of inherent group superiority, central to problematic chosenness, invariably demands justification beyond mere assertion. In a world increasingly shaped by scientific discourse, such justifications often masquerade as scientific truth, though they are in fact profoundly “unscientific.” This involves:

• Pseudoscience and Racial Biology: Fascist ideologies, drawing heavily on this chosenness mindset, frequently invent and propagate elaborate pseudoscientific theories of race. The Aryan myth of Nazi Germany, for instance, posited a “master race” descended from ancient, pure stock, whose physical and intellectual superiority was “scientifically proven” through skull measurements, eugenics, and fabricated anthropometric data. These theories were not rigorously tested hypotheses but rather post-hoc rationalizations for pre-existing prejudices, utterly devoid of empirical merit and disproven by genuine genetic and anthropological research.
• Biological Determinism: The reduction of complex human attributes, behaviors, and societal outcomes to simplistic, unchangeable biological factors is a hallmark of this unscientific approach. If chosenness is innate and biological, then it is unchallengeable, absolving the chosen group of any moral responsibility for its actions and reinforcing the perceived inferiority of others as fixed and immutable.
• Selective Interpretation and Decontextualization: Pseudoscience distorts genuine scientific findings or selects isolated data points out of context to support its predetermined conclusions. Any evidence that contradicts the narrative of chosenness is dismissed as false, biased, or part of a conspiracy. This rejection of verifiable evidence and open inquiry is the antithesis of scientific methodology.

By presenting its claims as “natural” or “scientifically proven,” this unscientific chosenness lends a false air of legitimacy to its supremacist agenda, transforming prejudice into a “fact” and making its tenets appear immutable rather than socially constructed.

4. The Unhistorical Narrative: Forging a Mythic Past and Future

The problematic perception of chosenness never exists in a historical vacuum; instead, it actively constructs an “unhistorical” narrative to support its claims. This involves a deliberate manipulation and distortion of the past, often creating a mythological history that is more convenient than accurate.

• Mythologized Origins: Chosenness narratives frequently establish a glorious, often fantastical, origin story for the group. This could involve divine creation, descent from ancient heroes, or a unique genesis event that sets them apart. For example, Italian Fascism invoked the grandeur of the Roman Empire, creating a continuity where modern Italians were the rightful heirs to this glorious past, destined to restore its imperial might. This historical projection selectively ignored centuries of diverse history, internal conflicts, and actual cultural evolution.
• Selective Historicism: History is not studied for understanding but plundered for anecdotes and symbols that affirm the chosen group’s destiny and purity. Victories are magnified, defeats are reinterpreted as heroic sacrifices or external betrayals, and inconvenient truths (e.g., periods of subjugation, cultural exchange, or shared humanity with “others”) are expunged from the collective memory.
• Prophetic Destiny: The unhistorical narrative extends into the future, positing a predetermined destiny for the chosen group—be it global dominance (e.g., Nazi Germany’s Thousand-Year Reich), territorial expansion (e.g., manifest destiny, Lebensraum), or the purging of perceived impurities. This future vision is presented as inevitable, thus justifying any means necessary for its realization.
• Anachronism and Retrofitting: Historical events are often reinterpreted through a contemporary ideological lens, attributing modern concepts or values to past figures or societies in ways that betray actual historical context. The past is not merely remembered; it is re-invented to serve the present political and ideological agenda of chosenness.

This unhistorical approach not only erases the complexities of the past but also actively constructs a foundational myth that renders the chosen group’s claims of superiority and destiny as divinely or naturally ordained, thereby insulating them from rational critique and historical scrutiny.

5. The Nonsensical Core: Illogic and Irrationality as Foundations

At its heart, the problematic perception of chosenness, especially as a proto-mindset of fascism, is fundamentally “nonsensical.” It relies on patterns of thought that defy logical consistency, embrace self-contradiction, and prioritize emotional appeal over rational argumentation.

• Circular Reasoning: The chosenness is often asserted as self-evident: “We are chosen because we are superior, and we are superior because we are chosen.” This tautological reasoning makes external validation or refutation impossible within the framework of the chosen group’s belief system.
• Doublethink and Paradox: Fascist ideologies, fueled by chosenness, frequently demand the acceptance of contradictory beliefs simultaneously. For example, “the chosen people” might be portrayed as both supremely powerful and eternally victimized, both culturally advanced and threatened by “primitive” others, thereby justifying aggression as both a natural right and a defensive necessity.
• Appeals to Emotion over Reason: Instead of logical arguments, the chosenness narrative relies heavily on evoking powerful emotions: pride, fear, resentment, and a yearning for exceptionalism. Rational discourse is dismissed as weak, intellectual, or disloyal. The “truth” is felt, not reasoned.
• The Cult of Personality and Infallibility: When reason is abandoned, figures of authority (the leader, the party) become the sole arbiters of truth. Their pronouncements, often drawing from the wellspring of chosenness, are accepted without question, further entrenching the nonsensical ideology by suppressing any internal dissent or critical thought.
• Moral Relativism and Absolutism: The chosen group operates under a self-serving moral code where actions are judged not by universal ethical standards but by whether they benefit the chosen. Yet, paradoxically, this chosen morality is presented as absolute and divinely sanctioned, leading to a profound and dangerous hypocrisy that is nonsensical to any objective observer.

This embrace of the nonsensical is not a weakness but a strategic strength for fascistic chosenness. By abandoning reason, it renders itself immune to rational challenge, creating an unassailable fortress of belief that can motivate extreme action and suppress dissent more effectively than any logically consistent argument.

6. Chosenness as the Proto-Mindset of Fascism at its Zenith

The confluence of unscientific, unhistorical, and nonsensical chosenness provides the quintessential proto-mindset upon which fascism builds its most extreme structures. The perception of chosenness, when pushed to its “pic” or peak, seamlessly integrates into core fascist tenets:

• National or Racial Supremacy: The belief in an inherently chosen race or nation directly fuels the core fascist dogma of racial purity (e.g., Aryanism) and aggressive nationalism (e.g., Volksgemeinschaft, Romanità). This chosenness dictates who belongs, who is superior, and who must be excluded or eliminated.
• Irredentism and Expansionism: The “chosen” group’s unique destiny often involves territorial expansion, whether to reclaim supposed ancestral lands (Lebensraum) or to establish a global empire. This is seen not as conquest but as the rightful fulfillment of their inherent mission.
• Dehumanization and Scapegoating: If the chosen group is superior, then those designated as “unchosen” or “inferior” become subhuman, a blight, or an existential threat. This dehumanization, rooted in the chosenness narrative, is a necessary prerequisite for justifying state-sanctioned violence, persecution, and genocide.
• Totalitarian Control and Suppression of Dissent: The belief in a unified, chosen destiny demands absolute loyalty and conformity. Any individual or group questioning the chosenness narrative, or the leader implementing it, is deemed a traitor, an internal enemy, or a purveyor of “degenerate” thought, leading to the brutal suppression of dissent and the establishment of a totalitarian regime.
• Cult of the Leader: The leader often embodies the chosenness of the nation or race, becoming the visionary who alone understands and can fulfill the group’s unique destiny. Their word becomes law, their will divine, reinforcing the irrationality inherent in the belief system.
• Rejection of Universalism: The very nature of supremacist chosenness is antithetical to universal human rights, equality, and shared values. It systematically dismantles any framework that posits a common humanity, replacing it with a hierarchy rooted in arbitrary distinction.

The narratives of chosenness, when infused with these distortions, cease to be mere cultural identifiers and become potent ideological weapons. They manipulate a deeply human need for belonging and significance, twisting it into a destructive force that justifies unbound aggression and ethical collapse.

7. Conclusion: The Peril of Uncritical Chosenness

The perception of chosenness, when stripped of ethical responsibility and grounded in unscientific, unhistorical, and nonsensical foundations, represents a deeply dangerous proto-mindset. It is not an innocent cultural quirk but a fertile ideological soil from which the most virulent forms of fascism can sprout and flourish. The allure of being special, divinely favored, or naturally superior can blind individuals and entire societies to reason, historical fact, and shared humanity, leading to the dehumanization of others and the justification of atrocity.

Fascism, at its zenith, embodies the ultimate consequences of such a distorted chosenness. It transforms a perceived exceptionalism into an imperative for domination, a mythic past into a prophecy of conquest, and logical fallacies into unchallengeable truths.

Recognizing chosenness in this destructive form necessitates a vigilant commitment to critical thinking, historical literacy, and intellectual honesty. It demands a steadfast rejection of pseudoscientific racial theories, a rigorous interrogation of historical narratives, and an unwavering commitment to universal human rights and dignity over any claim of exclusive group superiority.

Only by understanding and actively dismantling the unscientific, unhistorical, and nonsensical underpinnings of such chosenness can societies hope to inoculate themselves against the recurring and insidious threat of fascism and uphold the principles of justice, equality, and shared humanity. The lesson of history is clear: when a people believes itself uniquely chosen for supremacy, the path often leads to the abyss.

References

• Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979.
• Burleigh, Michael. The Third Reich: A New History. New York: Hill and Wang, 2000.
• Eco, Umberto. “Ur-Fascism.” The New York Review of Books, June 22, 1995.
• Griffin, Roger. The Nature of Fascism. London: Routledge, 1993.
• Kershaw, Ian. Hitler: A Biography. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2008.
• Mosse, George L. The Crisis of German Ideology: Intellectual Origins of the Third Reich. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1964.
• Paxton, Robert O. The Anatomy of Fascism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.
• Sternhell, Zeev, Mario Sznajder, and Maia Ashéri. The Birth of Fascist Ideology: From Cultural Rebellion to Political Revolution. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994.