Adolf Eichmann and Fictitious World of Totalitarianism Cover Image

Adolf Eichmann a fiktívny svet totalitarizmu
Adolf Eichmann and Fictitious World of Totalitarianism

Author(s): Katarína Marinová
Subject(s): History, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Theology and Religion
Published by: Teologická fakulta Trnavskej univerzity
Keywords: Hannah Arendt;Adolf Eichmann;banality of evil;fictitious world of totalitarianism

Summary/Abstract: Adolf Eichmann was seen by Hannah Arendt as a lesson on the “banality of evil” in which everyone can understand what happens when a person behaves without thinking; he supports the creation of absolute evil. The goal of this paper is to show how thoughtlessness and superficiality of Eichmann contributed to form fictitious world of totalitarianism. Firstly this paper analyses different aspects of totalitarian regime as elements of a new fictitious world and then shows how Eichmann integrated himself to this world and what he had in common with its mentality. In the end it explains why Arendt characterizes both – Eichmann and “fi ctitious world” of totalitarianism as too far away from reality. Ultimately the article can be understood as mosaic which shows how “banality of evil” and “fictitious world” of totalitarianism are mutually dependent and interconnected.

  • Issue Year: 5/2014
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 5-17
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Slovak