QUESTION ONE: Hannah Arendt argues for a crucial distinction between politics, which she takes to be the realm of speech, conversation and debate, and violence, which she suggests is ‘speechless’. Others we have studied this term propose something different – that politics and violence are inseparable, and that one invariably entails the other. With direct reference to at least one of that authors considered in Theories of Conflict and Violence, consider the relationship between politics and violence. Hannah Arendt was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. After witnessing the atrocities of both World Wars and the worldwide tension during the Cold War, no concepts or theoretical understandings of the crimes and events that occurred were developed, inciting Arendt to comment on political violence. She considers these events to be a failure of politics and tradition. However, On Revolution seeks to provoke revolutionary thought, ideally with society reverting to the opulence of public life and politics as seen in Ancient Greece. Modern warfare echoes that of Roman antiquity, as we begin to see justifications of these conflicts, with rationalisation of violence accepted by society, seeing the amalgamation of violence and politics, as Marx highlights. Therefore, this structural violence must overcome with an overhaul of the political realm, with emphasis on speech, conversation and debate, creating radical upheaval and reform. Arendt emphasises this separation of politics and violence with great conviction, as politics in the modern world has greatly failed humanity as evidenced through the atrocities of the 20th century. This goes against the theories of Marx, who argues that the ruling class’ violence struct... ... middle of paper ... ...difficult to overcome the ruling class, as this violence is not obvious, as it is structured in the things we do in everyday life, making it virtually impossible to overcome this deep, structural violence within society. Arendt argues that political institutions and poor governance and justifications for warfare lead to violence being inflicted on the community, with the modern concept of ‘totalitarianism’ allowing for the concept of freedom to be linked to justification of war, something that deeply disturbs her. Overall, Arendt greatly challenges her principles in On Revolution to determine that violence and politics will always be linked, however forecasts that her theory of revolution can impact the future of politics internationally and create a free society, providing hope that one day politics and violence will be distinct, allowing for genuine governance.
In “1984,” Orwell portrays Winston’s secret struggle to undermine the totalitarian rule of Big Brother and the Party in Oceania. The different government agencies, such as the Thought Police and Ministry of Love, exercise unrestricted totalitarian rule over people. Winston actively seeks to join the rebellion and acquire the freedoms undermined by the Party. On the other hand, Heinlein’s brief narrative, “The Long Watch,” depicts a contrasting struggle championed by Dahlquist against the power hungry Colonel Towers and the Patrol. In his struggle to prevent the total domination of the world by the Patrol, Dahlquist chooses to sacrifice his life. Le Guin’s “The Ones who walk away from Omelas,” illustrates a communal form of injustice tolerated for the benefit of the entire city but necessitating the inhumane imprisonment of a child. He portrays the ambiguity of human morality and the individual struggle to determine right from wrong. The authors address social change and power in different ways, reflective of their individual perceptions. Hence, in each narrative, the author illustrates the individual’s role in effecting social change and the conditions under which such change becomes possible.
¬¬¬Though most American people claim to seek peace, the United States remains entwined with both love and hate for violence. Regardless of background or personal beliefs, the vast majority of Americans enjoy at least one activity that promotes violence whether it be professional fighting or simply playing gory video games. Everything is all well and good until this obsession with violence causes increased frequency of real world crimes. In the article, “Is American Nonviolence Possible” Todd May proposes a less standard, more ethical, fix to the problem at hand. The majority of the arguments brought up make an appeal to the pathos of the reader with a very philosophical overall tone.
For the great lesson which history imprints on the mind…is the tragic certainty that all wars gain their ultimate ends, whether great or petty, by the violation of personality, by the destruction of homes, by the paralysis of art and industry and letters…even wars entered on from high motives must rouse greed, cupidity, and blind hatred; that even in defensive warfare a people can defend its rights only by inflicting new wrongs; and that chivalrous no less than self-seeking war entails relentless destruction.
The book “1984” by George Orwell is a fictional work that was penned as a discourse on Orwell’s views of what it would be like to live in a totalitarianism society. It is my belief that his views were based on his personal life experiences as he witnessed first hand many of the violent crimes perpetuated by those in positions of authority. Often, these crimes against one segment of society were carried out by other members of the same society in the name of political advancement or at other times out of fear for one’s life. Due to his experiences, Orwell began to write of his hatred of political power and the concept of a totalitarianism society. “1984” serves as a warning to readers of how a government can become abusive when seeking total control of it’s population. Furthermore, it showcases in great detail how a society can allow itself to be controlled through a series of psychological abuses and manipulation of historical information.
There are several significant, as well as less significant, themes that are put forth by the author. Some themes that are not as meticulously elaborated on, but still contribute to the book, include the idea that war can corrupt the government and it’s actions, police brutality was part of the norm of the 1960s, and the word “power” had more than one meaning during the civil rights era. All these themes are important to take into consideration upon reading this book; however th...
The historical quote connects with real world conflicts that have a possibility to be repaired. It has been a wonder, for years, why governments such as communism and dictatorships don’t work. Golding explains it best i...
The 2006 film V for Vendetta, a cinematic remake of the classic graphic novel series by the same name, is the epitome of a Marxist fairy tale. The film is complete with a bourgeoisie government who spreads their ideology, via mass media, to a citizenry composed entirely of proletariats, and a hero who sets out to break said citizenry from the prison of false consciousness. If one examines the setting and environment of the film, and follows the main characters as they fight against, or break free from, false consciousness, evidence of Marxist themes are present throughout the film.
While Gloria Steinem’s work involving her book ‘Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions,’ was a highly entertaining and informative read about her time as a activist writer in the Second-Wave Feminist Era, it is also a particularly difficult thing to summarize. As a collection of essays regarding her experiences as a feminist writer, it becomes difficult to separate and give clear direction to the information and topics that were covered throughout the text. However, the work can generally be separated into three key topics. These topics are historical moments and how they influenced the Women’s Rights Movement, specific women to cross Steinem’s path and how they have shaped our history, and the female image of the modern day and where
In The Human Condition, by Hannah Arendt, the public sphere and its absorption into the social sphere is evaluated and helps to demonstrate the necessity of the private sphere.
"Courage is a blade of grass breaking through the icy snow” Bernard Waber. Courage means a variety of things depending on who you talk to. It could mean doing something you're afraid of to one person, while meaning completing a task in the face of problems, to another. Courage is a fluid term, it changes constantly and quickly.
In 1984, George Orwell repeatedly presents the government’s slogan “War is Peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength” (3). The significance
The words we use, define our feelings on certain subjects, and entitles to who we are as a society. One can figure out how someone feels just by observing how many times they have tweeted or posted about their emotions on social media. The trending words used on the internet is affecting individualism, increases demoralization and governmentalization. David Brooks writes an article based on the changes that he is noticing and shares the story of how society has turned out to be more individualistic. Brooks focuses on the fact that reducing the government’s size would not change anything, because the problem is in the cultural values that are in our society.
To properly determine the factors affecting success or failure of a revolution, it is first necessary to clearly define what is meant by ‘revolution’. Robert Dix defines revolution as “a process intended by its initiator to win power by violent means, in order to effect a radical restructuring of a country's polity, economy, society, and external relationships.” (Dix 1983, 423) Skocpol furthermore says that “[T]he word ‘revolution’ [has a] modern connotation of a fundamental socio-political change accompanied by violent upheavals from below.” (Skocpol 1988, 151) Both of these definitions take violence as a necessary part of a revolution. That, however, is too narrow a view. It is possible for revolutionaries to use other means, such as strikes and n...
The first thing a person would notice when he or she meets someone for the first time is physical appearance. If a girl seems to have expensive belongings or more possessions, one might think, “Wow. This person must be enjoying life. She has everything she wants and needs. What is there not to be happy about?” After a few months of getting to know her, one might then get to know a deeper side of her, and come to understand that she, too, has struggles. One would learn that those initial assumptions about her were inaccurate in a sense that even though she seemed privileged, she still wasn’t satisfied and might not have a perfect life.
According to Hannah Arendt, a scholar known for her works in The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), totalitarianism entails absolute domination over all aspects of life, instilling a comprehensive terror apparatus. She describes this terror as being the very essence of a totalitarian government. It is part and parcel of “psychological warfare” along with propaganda and security. Totalitarianism ultimately is a highly centralized, monistic structure of power, where the ruling group cannot be taken out of power by institutionalized and peaceful means. The society becomes completely politicized, and the boundary between the state and society disappears. There is a system of beliefs or a “doctrine” that presents the most important aspects of human