The Banality of Evil: Understanding Hannah Arendt’s Perspective
The execution of Adolf Eichmann, one of the prominent figures behind the Holocaust, is a poignant moment that captured the attention of political philosopher Hannah Arendt. In her seminal work “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil,” Arendt reflects on Eichmann’s demeanor as he went to the gallows with surprising dignity. Despite his heinous crimes, Eichmann’s ordinary appearance and his belief in obedience as the highest civic duty led Arendt to a profound insight into the nature of evil.
Having fled Germany in 1933 to escape the rise of Hitler, Arendt devoted her life to unraveling the mechanisms that allowed the Nazi regime to gain power. Contrary to popular belief that the Third Reich was an anomaly led by uniquely evil individuals, Arendt argued that modern society’s focus on production and consumption of goods dehumanizes individuals, making them vulnerable to ideologies that prioritize economic value over moral and political considerations.
For Arendt, participating in oppressive regimes becomes a way for individuals to seek identity and community in a world that values economic contributions above all else. While Eichmann’s actions were monstrous, Arendt saw him not as a singularly evil figure but as a product of a society that values conformity over critical thinking. This sobering revelation led Arendt to emphasize the importance of thinking as a weapon against the threats of modernity.
Related Content:
An Introduction to the Life & Thought of Hannah Arendt: Presented by the BBC Radio’s In Our Time
Hannah Arendt Explains How Propaganda Uses Lies to Erode All Truth & Morality: Insights from The Origins of Totalitarianism
Large Archive of Hannah Arendt’s Papers Digitized by the Library of Congress: Read Her Lectures, Drafts of Articles, Notes & Correspondence
Hannah Arendt on “Personal Responsibility Under Dictatorship:” Better to Suffer Than Collaborate
Take Hannah Arendt’s Final Exam for Her 1961 Course “On Revolution”
Watch Hannah Arendt’s Final Interview (1973)
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities, the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.