Critics: Savater’s Path from Philosophy to Totalitarianism

From Ethics to Totalitarian Ideology: Fernando Savater’s Turn

The debate over Fernando Savater’s trajectory has polarized around his ideological evolution, shifting from a figure associated with critiquing extremism to adopting stances some label as openly totalitarian. Critics focus on how certain statements, particularly during health or geopolitical crises, seem to dismantle the constitutional principles he once defended.

Criticism of Vaccination and Science Stance

A recurring critique involves analogies regarding vaccines. Critics argue that comparing vaccine administration to aircraft usage, noting the absence of antigens in approved products at the time, constitutes a sophism. This comparison strips the discussion of scientific rigor, reducing the philosopher's stance to a rhetorical maneuver.

Justifying Lockdown and the State

The most forceful analysis points to the justification of coercive state measures. Some argue that by supporting lockdown and other power excesses during the pandemic, Savater aligns with a logic of control evoking totalitarian models, comparing the "passport apartheid" to historical state control mechanisms.

Ideological Instability: From Pogre to Nationalism

Critiques of ideological coherence are profound. A notable shift is highlighted: a supposed anti-nationalist figure in past decades is now linked to Ukrainian nationalist discourses. Critics argue this metamorphosis is not intellectual change but opportunistic adaptation to the prevailing discourse, labeling his thought as deeply chameleon-like.

Intellectual Responsibility and the Discourse of Power

It is argued that justifying evil is as serious as the act itself. This perspective applies to how certain stances, by legitimizing state or military actions, align with power narratives regardless of ideological labels. The debate centers on whether these are merely contextual adaptations or reflect a deep adherence to control logics.

With these points, Savater’s figure remains at a crossroads: Is he a thinker evolving with context, or someone who has inadvertently adopted the rhetoric of those who coerce most?

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