OT on Arendt/banality of evil

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11658

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> > One started with Hannah Arendt and concerns "the banality of 
evil." 
> > According to this view, those who committed the crimes were cogs 
in 
> a 
> > bureaucracy, and were too brainwashed or too dedicated to their 
jobs 
> and 
> > country fully to realize how evil the bureaucracy's ends were.
> > 
> 
> This may indeed be a prominent view, but if it is said to have been 
> held by Arendt herself (I'm not sure if that's what you are saying) 
I 
> humbly differ.  Arendt did not describe Eichmann as unaware of the 
> evil of the ends he made possible.  Quite the contrary--she showed 
> that he did know it (he helped PLAN the "final solution," after 
> all--he was very high up in Nazi leadership) and yet managed to 
sqaure 
> it, in his own mind, with being a moral person.  Her book on 
Eichmann 
> was extremely controversial because people thought she was excusing 
> Eichmann and his ilk or somehow portraying them as less culpable.  
> Nothing could be further from the truth IMO.  
> 
> I feel strongly about this because I think Arendt explored the 
realm 
> we all need to look at most--what makes respectable, by all 
accounts 
> pleasant and upstanding, people not only look the other way during 
> slaughters such as Hitler's, but become enthusiastic participants?  
> What makes us surrender our will and our morality when there is no 
> Imperius Curse in our world?
> 
> Anyway, thanks for the thread!
> Amy Z

If you can find it, rent "Triumph of the Will", a film made by Leni 
Riethenstahl (not sure of that spelling).  It's a film made of 
Hitler's Nurnberg Rally in the 30s(?).  It's the most 
convincing...argument, I guess I'd say...for mass hypnotism.  Even if 
you don't understand German, it is compelling and totally *scary*.  I 
was blown away by how one person could bring all that about. 

Side note:  I had to watch the above film & translate it (while the 
film was going on) in one of my university German classes. 

Having seen that film, I can better understand how Voldy can use the 
Imperius Curse to shape the will of otherwise sane and sensible (we 
hope) people. You play on their fears. 

Peace & Plenty,

Parker