seems like nietzsche and hitler is a question, so let me have a crack at that too. if it gets really hairy, i will start posting quotes.

i actually love nietzsche and he got me into philosophy. but i think if you make him into some mellow democrat, you certainly have him all wrong. he loves hierarchies, and thinks they are natural. he condemns egalitarianism in all forms as resentment that hates the world. he celebrates raw power, and admires people who wield it without shame. he praises war. there are many passages where he attacks democracy, socialism, etc. he certainly toys with various general characterizations of races/nations and their characters, including "the jews." he ridicules charity and praises cruelty. he proposes that we are on the edge of the next stage in evolution, which he calls "superman." he talks about how superior and inferior people get bred. etc etc etc.

you can't tell me that all that has nothing to do with fascism. or that it's all elizabeth's doing.

now the defense rests largely on this: he's even more brutal to anti-semites (surely he has his sister's husband in mind, e.g.) than he is to the jews. there are various ironies and reversals in his statements on all these matters to which you've got to be constantly alert. nevertheless, the last thing you want to do is actually live in a nietzschean polity.

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[Bernard]

A philosopher also has to take some responsibility for the ways in which his work might be easily misconstrued or naturally misappropriated for evil purposes.