Banality of Evil

This highly original book is the first to explore the political and philosophical consequences of Hannah Arendt's concept of 'the banality of evil' a term she used to describe Adolph Eichmann architect of the Nazi 'final solution.' According to Bernard J. Bergen the questions that preoccupied Arendt were the meaning and significance of the Nazi genocide to our modern times. As Bergen describes Arendt's struggle to understand 'the banality of evil' he shows how Arendt redefined the meaning of our most treasured political concepts and principles-freedom society identity truth equality and reason-in light of the horrific events of the Holocaust.