Unoriginality of Evil: The Two Atomic Bombs

Unoriginality of Evil

The Americans dropped two atomic bombs on Japan’s burgeoning cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in August 1945. The two atom bombs severely decimated the population in the affected cities, but who is to blame? Does blame fall upon the pilots who delivered destruction, or their superiors delivering the order? The claim of responsibility is not easy to make. To convey the convoluted concept “Banality of Evil” was introduced. In 1963 Hannah Arendt came up with this phrase in her book “Eichmann in Jerusalem” She states, “Banality of evil is a philosophical term meaning that evil occurs when ordinary individuals are put into corrupt situations that encourage their conformity”. This phrase became the foundation for many different essays, including Carol Tavris’ and Stanley Milgram’s articles “In Groups We Shrink” and “Perils of Obedience” respectively. Travis uses the concept of “Banality of Evil” to explain why individuals act differently when they are placed within groups. She uses the idea of “Banality of Evil” to explain the reason for immoral behavior of individuals within groups. She conveys this by her use of experimental evidence, historical evidence and diffusion of responsibility. Milgram incorporates Arendt’s concept to explain that authority can make an individual do unethical and immoral things. Compared to Tavris, Milgram is partially effective in using experimental and historical evidence, but is ineffective because his definition of “banality of evil” has a limited scope, dismissing fact that people have their own motives for performing an ill deed.

Tavris uses effectively gives experimental evidence to show that “Banality of Evil” is provoked due to selfish motives. Whereas, Milgram uses experimen...

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...hen a guy gave a 450 volts shock in Milgram’s experiment, maybe he fought with his wife and came to experiment. His anger took decision to give that level of shock it may not be the authority that made him to give shock. Authority can make someone do evil but at times people just do it for fun or out of anger or depending upon the situation.

All in all, Tavris uses experimental, historical and elaboration on diffusion of responsibility, made her more effective in using the concept of Banality of Evil. While Milgram used experimental and historical evidence to make his argument more effective in context to the meaning of “Banality of Evil” but was ineffective as his definition gave a limited scope as he failed to explain the evil without authority.

On my honor, I have neither received not given any unauthorized assistance.

Anand Patel _____________________