Language:
English
Year of publication:
1999
Titel der Quelle:
Midstream
Angaben zur Quelle:
45,7 (1999) 9-14
Keywords:
Abel, Lionel
;
Arendt, Hannah,
;
Holocaust (Jewish theology)
Abstract:
Uses unpublished and recently (1995) published letters by Arendt to cast light on her controversial 1963 report on the Eichmann trial. Basically agrees with Arendt's critics (e.g. Norman Podhoretz), to the effect that "in seeking to do justice to her theory of totalitarianism Arendt does an injustice to the reality of antisemitism". also points out her dual standard for judging the Judenräte and the Nazi officials. Concludes that Arendt's attempt at objectivity was a way to distance herself from Jewish identity and the suffering of the Jewish people. Although she defined Eichmann's "banality" as an inability to think, she herself exhibited that failure in a different context - in refusing to engage in public debate about her book and avoiding an examination of her motivations in writing it.
Note:
Especially on its critical review by Lionel Abel ("Partisan Review", 1963) and Arendt's unpublished response.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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