Nae Ionescu (, born Nicolae C. Ionescu; – 15 March 1940) was a Romanian philosopher,
logic
Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic is the study of deductively valid inferences or logical truths. It examines how conclusions follow from premises based on the structure o ...
ian, mathematician, professor, and journalist.
Life
Born in
Brăila
Brăila (, also , ) is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County. The Sud-Est (development region), ''Sud-Est'' Regional Development Agency is located in Brăila.
According to the 2021 Romanian ...
, Ionescu studied Letters at the
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest (UB) () is a public university, public research university in Bucharest, Romania. It was founded in its current form on by a decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza to convert the former Princely Academy of Bucharest, P ...
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
. When
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
began, he traveled to
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
for additional studies at the
University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...
. Romania's entry into the war on the Entente side prevented him from returning, but he was awarded a doctorate in philosophy in 1919 from the
University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (simply University of Munich, LMU or LMU Munich; ) is a public university, public research university in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Originally established as the University of Ingolstadt in 1472 by Duke ...
. His thesis was entitled ''Die Logistik als Versuch einer neuen Begründung der Mathematik'' ("Formal logic as an attempt at a new foundation of mathematics").
Back in Romania, after another brief stint teaching, Ionescu was appointed assistant to
Constantin Rădulescu-Motru
Constantin Rădulescu-Motru (; born Constantin Rădulescu, he added the surname ''Motru'' in 1892; February 15, 1868 – March 6, 1957) was a Romanian philosopher, psychologist, sociologist, logician, academic, dramatist, as well as Left-win ...
at the University of Bucharest's department of Logic and Theory of Knowledge.
His life's work had a profound effect on a generation of Romanian thinkers, first for his studies on
comparative religion
Comparative religion is the branch of the study of religions with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices, themes and impacts (including human migration, migration) of the world's religions. In general the comparative study ...
, philosophy, and
mysticism
Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute (philosophy), Absolute, but may refer to any kind of Religious ecstasy, ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or Spirituality, spiritual meani ...
, but later for his nationalist and far right sentiment. Some of the figures he influenced include Constantin Noica,
Mircea Eliade
Mircea Eliade (; – April 22, 1986) was a Romanian History of religion, historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. One of the most influential scholars of religion of the 20th century and in ...
Petre Țuțea
Petre Țuțea (; 6 October 1902 – 3 December 1991) was a Romanian philosopher, journalist, and economist.
Biography
Early years and the Legionary Movement
Petre Țuțea was born in the village of Boteni, Muscel County (now in Argeș ...
. The
existentialist
Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value ...
and partly
mystical
Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight ...
school of thought Ionescu introduced bore the name '. ''Trăirism'' intersected at several points with the ideology of the
Iron Guard
The Iron Guard () was a Romanian militant revolutionary nationalism, revolutionary Clerical fascism, religious fascist Political movement, movement and political party founded in 1927 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu as the Legion of the Archangel M ...
; the connection became even more direct when many of its adherents also publicly associated with the latter.
Ionescu himself was more reserved in his dealings with the Guard. He was the editor of the highly influential newspaper '' Cuvântul'', which had long backed
King
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
Carol II
Carol II (4 April 1953) was King of Romania from 8 June 1930, until his forced abdication on 6 September 1940. As the eldest son of Ferdinand I of Romania, King Ferdinand I, he became crown prince upon the death of his grand-uncle, King Carol I, ...
– the major rival of the Guard. However, Ionescu moved away from the monarchy due to Carol's inner circle. Ionescu's
antisemitism
Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...
was a decisive factor in his switching of allegiances:
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
writer Mihail Sebastian's ''Journal'' depicts the interval during which Ionescu's virulence grew, as well as the reasons that were animating his large following.
Mihail Sebastian incident
During the period when Sebastian and Ionescu were still on speaking terms, the latter had agreed to write the preface of Sebastian's book ''De două mii de ani...'' ("For two thousand years..."). Ionescu's introduction shocked Sebastian, who "loved and admired Ionescu", as it included several overtly antisemitic statements.
Mircea Eliade
Mircea Eliade (; – April 22, 1986) was a Romanian History of religion, historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. One of the most influential scholars of religion of the 20th century and in ...
recalls the incident in his autobiography:
"Judah suffers because it must suffer," Nae had written. And he explained why: the Jews had refused to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah. This suffering in history reflected, in a certain sense, the destiny of the Hebrew people who, precisely because they had rejected Christianity, could not be saved. ''
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
The Latin phrase (meaning 'outside the Church here isno salvation' or 'no salvation outside the Church') Sebastian, though dejected by the incident, opted to keep Ionescu's introduction in the book.
Later life
After Carol's crackdown on the
Iron Guard
The Iron Guard () was a Romanian militant revolutionary nationalism, revolutionary Clerical fascism, religious fascist Political movement, movement and political party founded in 1927 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu as the Legion of the Archangel M ...
, Nae Ionescu and his disciples were rounded up and imprisoned at a makeshift camp in
. The experience took a toll on his fragile health, and he died soon thereafter, at age 49. Some close sources indicated that he was assassinated by poisoning due to his involvement with the Iron Guard.Sebastian y el mentor diabólico by Ignacio Vidal-Folch. ''
El PaÃs
(; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA.
It is the second-most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . is the most read newspaper in ...
'', 7 November 2009 . He was buried at Bellu Cemetery in
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
; his coffin was carried by some of his disciples, including Mircea Eliade.
Nae Ionescu's villa in Băneasa
Nae Ionescu was the owner of a luxury villa in Băneasa village (now Băneasa neighborhood, in the northern part of Bucharest), situated at 4 Ion Ionescu de la Brad Avenue (position ). It was considered one of the finest Bucharest residences at the time. The house remained in collective memory mainly because it is described in his students' writings ( Mircea Vulcănescu and others). The house was built by architect George Matei Cantacuzino, under its owner's direct supervision.
In his book ''"Nae Ionescu așa cum l-am cunoscut"'' (''"Nae Ionescu As I Knew Him"''), Vulcănescu dedicates many pages in describing this house, in detail. He evokes the fact that a painting of
was displayed there (a ''Descent from the Cross''), on which Ionescu took great pride.
Nae Ionescu died in this very house, because of a heart attack, on 15 March 1940, while his girlfriend Cella Delavrancea was present. After his death, the house served as an official residence to
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...
Ion Antonescu
Ion Antonescu (; ; – 1 June 1946) was a Romanian military officer and MareÈ™al (Romania), marshal who presided over two successive Romania during World War II, wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister of Romania, Prime Minister and ''ConducÄ ...
(sometime after his rise in power on 6 September 1940).
After the
Communist regime
A communist state, also known as a Marxist–Leninist state, is a one-party state in which the totality of the power belongs to a party adhering to some form of Marxism–Leninism, a branch of the communist ideology. Marxism–Leninism was ...
was installed, the villa was given to the University of Agronomic Sciences (since the land of "Ferma Regală Băneasa" ( Băneasa Royal Farm) lies around the building). Today, it is the headquarters of ''"Stațiunea de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Pomicultură Băneasa"'' (statiuneabaneasa.ro), a research facility for
pomology
Pomology (from Latin , "fruit", + , "study") is a branch of botany that studies fruits and their cultivation. Someone who researches and practices the science of pomology is called a pomologist. The term fruticulture (from Latin , "fruit", + , "c ...