Overcoming Activism

by Julius Evola

Julius Evola criticizes the modern emphasis on activism and constant change, advocating a return to traditional values that balance action with contemplation and spiritual depth.

This article was first published in the magazine Deutsches Volkstum (German Folk Culture) in November 1933.

That “activism” has become a slogan in the “modern” era can hardly be disputed. In theory and practice, action — meaning everything that involves tension, dynamism, becoming, transformation, eternal quest, and inexhaustible movement — is praised and defended. The realm of “principles,” so familiar to the rationalist mindset of the pre-war period, is relentlessly declining, and this decline is even welcomed with joy. Today, we not only witness the triumph of action but also a unique philosophy that serves action. This philosophy strives to justify itself with systematic critique and a strong speculative apparatus, while dismissing values upheld by traditional perspectives with contempt.