Monday, November 5, 2012
7 and 1/2 Americans (Gr. 2 Section 19)
Today we discussed Arendt and how she was convinced that people who didn't seem like they were mentally ill still committed horrible crimes and denied they had done anything wrong. This was do in large part to their supposed obligations to do these acts like Nazi executioners killing Jews because it was "their job". What Arendt said was so troubling was that these Nazis who committed them were not seen as crazy in the general public but were considered normal out on the streets. This just shows us that anyone is capable of anything when faced with losing something vital to them like their job or in some cases, their life. I think that people should not just do the wrong thing because they might lose something dear to them if they know what they are doing is wrong.
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I thought that Arendt's view on the banality of evil was pretty interesting, and I agree that just because someone is doing what they're told, that doesn't make it right.
ReplyDeleteF: What term did Arendt use to describe ordinary people doing bad things?
Banality of Evil
D: Was Eichmann an evil person for his part in history, or is he just a normal person that happened to be in a bad circumstance?
F: Who discussed the matter of ordinary people, being ordered to do horrible thing, then not viewing these acts as wrong?
ReplyDelete-Arendt
D: Is it ok to commit a crime against humanity, if said crime is ultimately your job?
FACTUAL QUESTION: WHAT PART DID EICHMANN PLAY IN THE HOLOCAUST?
ReplyDeleteHIS JOB WAS TO FIND EFFICIENT WAYS TO SEND PEOPLE TO THEIR DEATH.
DISCUSSION QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THAT EICHMANN WAS ONLY DOING HIS DUTY?