hannah arendt Flashcards
What is the novel form of government that Arendt discusses in her work?
Totalitarianism, which cannot be understood through traditional categories like tyranny or despotism.
How does totalitarianism differ from tyrannies?
Unlike tyrannies, which rule through fear and absence of law, totalitarian regimes seek to realize the laws of nature or history through individual actions.
What role does ideology play in totalitarian rule according to Arendt?
Ideology functions as a “coercive logic of an all-explanatory idea, ‘emancipated from reality’,” imposed through terror to crush dissent and subordinate life to politics.
What is the basic experience under totalitarianism?
Loneliness, which differs from isolation and solitude, involving the abolition of the private sphere and the loss of the ability to be alone with one’s thoughts.
Did Arendt aim to write a history of totalitarianism?
No, she aimed to conduct an “analysis in terms of history,” identifying elements of Western history that crystallized into totalitarianism.
What is the raison d’être of politics for Arendt?
Freedom, which is experienced and realized through action in the space of politics.
What was the original meaning of freedom, according to Arendt?
The status of a free man, liberated from the necessities of life, requiring a public space for action and speech among equals.
How does totalitarianism destroy freedom, according to Arendt?
By subordinating all of life to politics, totalitarianism eliminates the space for freedom.
How does Arendt critique liberalism’s view of freedom?
She argues that liberalism’s “negative freedom” misunderstands freedom as action within a political community.
What is Arendt’s concept of action?
Action is about beginning something new, distinct from intellect or will, and experienced as freedom in a performative and social context.
How does Arendt distinguish between “freedom of the will” and “freedom as action”?
Freedom as action is engaging in the world through action, while “freedom of the will” is derivative and secondary.
Why does Arendt argue that freedom and sovereignty are incompatible?
Sovereignty involves domination, whereas freedom requires plural actors acting in concert.
How does Arendt critique the traditional view of politics as “rule”?
She argues that viewing politics as “rule” leads to domination and instead proposes politics as “acting and speaking in concert” involving plurality.
What are natality and plurality in Arendt’s political philosophy?
Natality is the capacity for new beginnings, and plurality is the existence of diverse individuals, forming the basis of action in politics.
What do the Greek concepts of archein and prattein signify for Arendt?
Archein (to begin) and prattein (to carry through) emphasize that action is inherently social and political.
