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Banality of Evil - Coggle Diagram
Banality of Evil
Normality of Adolf Eichmann
High ranking bureaucrat in the Gestapo
Responsible for the deportation of 1.5 million from all over Europe to killing centres
Fled to Argentina and later brought to Israel to stand trial
First time the holocaust of European Jews was the centre of the war narrative
The trial was influential in how the holocaust is discussed and commemorated today
To Arendt, a very normal, regular man
Not exceedingly villainous
Unremarkable in every sense, terrifying normal
A law abiding citizen
Less of a comic book, supervillain, more of a office worker
A paper-pusher
Extremely unsettling for Arendt
How can someone so ordinary commit such extraordinary evil?
He is just like everyone else, so is everyone capable of such evil?
His regularness makes it difficult to try him
Banality of Adolf Eichmann
To Arendt, Evil is banal, and utterly ordinary
Argues that most people do not resist the crowd
Going along with the majority
Eichmann is the emblem of the banality of evil
This is frustrating to Arendt as it shows that people do not critically consider the morality of their individual actions
He did not act abnormal, but missed critical thinking
It seems normal that majority of people do not think
As such, he became complicit in a system that is evil and unjust
Does it take an abnormal level of moral character to realise the system is overwhelmingly evil?
He was normal because he followed orders and laws, but normal should imply he realised the criminality of his actions
Does someone care enough to reflect on the system that one is participating in?
He did not seem to have prejudices or evil intentions
We have someone who's guilt seems to be absolute normalcy
Again, just a paper pusher
Evil became the ordinary during Eichmann's time
Evil became banal
Never had to stop and think whether it was right
Became natural to Eichmann
Everyone else is evil, so why should I be different?
It is easier to achieve peace and quiet by following the crowd
Obedience of Adolf Eichmann
Millgram experiment
Most humans follow orders to frightening degrees
Showed that regular people are willing to hurt others when ordered too
Mindset shift when placed in a hierarchy
Compliance with authority
2 Groups of people
Supreme villains, who rise to power through commanding Eichmann-like people
People like Eichmann, who are banal and ignorant to simply following orders
The threat of punishment
If Eichmann fought against the system, would he be severely punished?
Was disobedience even an option in terms of his personal safety?
Was it worth it to give up his 'normal' life?
Again, he did not seem to have prejudices or evil intentions
No corrupted will to harm others
Did not seem to act entirely of his own volition
A stereotypical bureaucrat
Opposite of someone like Hitler, who was complete hatred and actively seeked out evil
This lack of intention has been used to argue for his innocence