Hisham Sharabi stated in a lecture he delivered in March 1954: “The Syrian Social Nationalist Movement is not a philosophical society ” He added, “When we say that the movement offers a comprehensive view of life, the universe, and art, we do not mean that the movement has philosophical texts to present to everyone who asks us about our view of art, the universe, and life.”
However, it can be said that the Syrian Social Nationalist ideology is a social philosophy that addresses the individual as a social being, not as an independent entity, It is worth noting that Saadeh said: “The emergence of the individual personality is one of the most exceptional moments in history, but the formation of society is the most complete and effective force in life.” Therefore,
it is a social philosophy that speaks of active and vibrant social existence and its interaction at all levels with its environment, surroundings, and components, far removed from the metaphysical and the transcendental.
Based on the premise that philosophy, in one of its definitions, is a vision and a continuous, renewed inquiry, it is possible to say that the philosophy of the National Socialist ideology is defined by the following characteristics:
1. The National Socialist ideology is a philosophy that begins with society and ends with society, and it views the individual as a social being, This is a true fact, partially expressed by Aristotle,
 In this regard, Jurji Kanaan said: “The individual does not become a human being, nor do his human talents blossom, nor are his knowledge and experiences renewed, except within an organized society, Without social existence, humanity cannot form a civilization.”
“The gathering of people, their cooperation, and their interaction with the environment are the foundation upon which civilization arises.”
Perhaps Antoun Saadeh’s book, “The Rise of Nations,” was the only reference in this region that discusses the emergence, development, system, and ultimate meaning of human society. While the National Socialist ideology is a social philosophy that does not concern itself with metaphysics, it does not neglect to consider religion as a direct factor in the life of society from a socio-political perspective, as Hisham Sharabi says, Antoun Saadeh was the first to demonstrate the unity of the spiritual heritage in Syria in his book, “Islam in its Two Messages.” Accusing the National Socialist movement of not caring about religion as a social phenomenon was an accusation issued by the ignorant and biased, If society is the arena and measure of the National Socialist ideology, then a National Socialist can be a Christian or Muslim believer, or not a believer in any religious doctrine, and at the same time be a true National Socialist, We, the National Socialists, have not abandoned the true message of religion, but rather have chosen to save this message from the abyss of hateful and backward sectarianism.
In the National Socialist doctrine, society is the goal, because no real renaissance can be achieved except through the idea of ​​sacrifice, The followers of the comprehensive cause see themselves as a means to achieve their higher aims, When social consciousness rises, individual particularities disappear and dissolve, and the aims and ideals are unified to become the ideals and values ​​of the comprehensive movement of society, where the individual becomes a social possibility that is realized within its social framework, This is not an erasure of individual existence. Saadeh emphasized the social nature of the concept of the individual and said: “The most complete existence is social existence.”
2. The second characteristic of the philosophy of the National Socialist ideology is its reliance on reason as the ultimate authority and law, possessing true influence in the lives of individuals and society, as expressed by Saadeh in his Ten Lectures (page 107), Here, reason is the culmination of experience and the intellectual wealth accumulated throughout history, representing the advancement of human consciousness and civilization, What we call Western reason today is nothing but the culmination of the powerful intellect that originated in Sumer, Syria, dating back to the third and fourth millennia BC, Reason, in this context, is not merely thought and knowledge, but also stance, confrontation, and the way one views oneself and the universe, It is an expression of profound love within humanity.
When Saadeh emphasizes the importance of reason, he focuses on the following points:
* The advancement and development of reason necessarily leads to an awareness of virtues, moral elevation, and gradual progress along the path of civilizational development, In other words, there is a genuine interaction between the advancement of reason and the elevation of morality; indeed, reason is the source and wellspring of morality.
* Saadeh’s focus on reason aims to stimulate thinking, indeed to encourage the learning of methods of thinking, not merely the acquisition of ideas, The principles he left us are guidelines for the development of thought, not definitive frameworks for it.
* The Syrian Social Nationalist ideology is rational because it is scientific and based on three disciplines: history, geography, and sociology, These disciplines are the true arena for the mind, its interaction, and its creativity, Consequently, Antoun Saadeh’s thought was a discourse directed at every thinking, striving, and creative individual.
3. The third characteristic of the Renaissance ideology’s philosophy is its ethical message and moral framework. Ethics and morality are not mere garments, forms, prestige, formal appearances, or traditions learned solely through indoctrination and upbringing. Rather, they represent a profound awareness and a civilizational understanding that extends to embodying virtues. Acting upon them requires the interaction of the mind and will to achieve the embodiment of virtues and morality, making them an integral part of the society’s comprehensive cultural and civilizational identity, reflecting a structured, ethical approach to life.
4. The fourth major characteristic of the Renaissance doctrine is that it is a philosophy of movement in which matter and spirit interact. It is not a philosophy of stagnation and rigidity, but rather of growth and progress. Some believe that the philosophy of movement, also called “the philosophy of progress,” provides an answer to every question in philosophy, The comprehensive view of this doctrine of life, the universe, and art does not mean that it consists of rigid, passive, and specific texts in which the work of the mind stops and the effort of thinking is confined, and one is satisfied with merely revolving around the self, so that the ideas of Antoun Saadeh turn over time into a sect with rigid faith, Rather, they are in fact the foundations and starting points for the new Renaissance, which saves man from two pains: the pain of realization and the pain of stumbling that he faces during realization.
How much more difficult it is for one whose heart has been illuminated by the light of ideals to stumble in realizing what he believes in,
We may be few today and we may remain few tomorrow, for the followers of the great messages, values, ideals and scientific ideas in history have always been few, but they have always been the qualified few who possess the keys and ways of thinking that find solutions when faced with dilemmas and turning points, If we have not yet been able to achieve political goals, this is a partial and temporary matter, and the most important thing is to create a renaissance, creative ideas and methodologies that confront crises, innovate solutions and open gaps in closed walls, as long as we strive to possess knowledge and arm ourselves with will!
How much we need now this scientific, ethical, and social thought to revive Syrian society, which is being subjected in these circumstances to destruction and devastation by all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including media, killing, moral sabotage, and the destruction of systems of values, moral security, and knowledge.