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Emil CioranRomanian philosopher and essayist.
Date of Birth: 08.04.1911
Country:  France |
Content:
- Biography of Emil Cioran
- Early Studies and Influences
- Support for Nazi Regime and Iron Guard
- Writing Career
- Move to Paris and French Works
- Later Works and Life
- Emil Cioran passed away on June 20, 1995, at the age of 84.
Biography of Emil Cioran
Emil Cioran was a Romanian philosopher and essayist born in Rasinari, Sibiu County, Austria-Hungary. His father, Emilian Cioran, was an Orthodox Romanian priest. At the age of 17, Emil enrolled at the University of Bucharest, where he met Eugène Ionesco and Mircea Eliade, forming an inseparable trio.
Early Studies and Influences
Cioran's initial research focused on the works of Immanuel Kant, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Friedrich Nietzsche. He soon became an agnostic and was heavily influenced by the writings of Georg Simmel, Ludwig Klages, Martin Heidegger, and the Russian philosopher Lev Shestov. In 1933, Cioran obtained a scholarship to study at the University of Berlin, where he personally met Ludwig Klages and Nicolai Hartmann.
Support for Nazi Regime and Iron Guard
Cioran was deeply interested in the actions of the Nazi regime and openly expressed his approval of Adolf Hitler, stating that he saw no more deserving politician than him. He even supported the Night of the Long Knives. Cioran also sympathized with the Italian fascists. However, he eventually became disillusioned with the Iron Guard, an extreme right-wing nationalist group, due to their excessive cruelty during the early years of World War II.
Writing Career
In 1935, Cioran published his first book, "On the Heights of Despair," in Romania. He received several prestigious awards for his work, including "The Book of Delusions," "Transfiguration of Romania," and "Tears and Saints." Although he never officially joined any political movement, Cioran openly supported the Iron Guard in Romania. However, he later distanced himself from the movement and rejected its nationalist dogmas.
Move to Paris and French Works
In 1936, Cioran settled in Brasov, Romania, before moving to Paris in 1937 on another scholarship. He remained in Paris until 1944. Although he visited Romania in November 1940, he left the country in February 1941. During this time, Cioran became convinced that the Iron Guard was not in line with his beliefs and disassociated himself from the movement and its nationalist ideologies.
Later Works and Life
In 1940, Cioran began working on his next book, "The Passionate Handbook," which was completed in 1945 and became his last book written in Romanian. He continued to explore themes of pessimism and misanthropy in his subsequent works written in French. Cioran's books gained immense popularity due to their unique lyrical style and mastery of language.
In 1949, Cioran published his first book in French, "A Short History of Decay." The following year, he received the Rivarol Prize for his work, which would be his last literary award. Cioran resided in the Latin Quarter of Paris, living in seclusion and minimizing his interactions with the outside world, except for a few close friends such as Mircea Eliade and Eugène Ionesco.
