The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly

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Episode 9: Roger Berkowitz

Aug 1, 2025

Guest

Roger Berkowitz

Roger Berkowitz, a writer and academic director at the Hannah Arendt Center, takes a deep dive into the thoughts of Hannah Arendt and Henry David Thoreau on civil disobedience. He distinguishes between living under tyranny versus totalitarianism, emphasizing the necessity of political action for freedom. Their discussions illuminate the contrast between individual dissent and collective action. Berkowitz also reflects on Arendt's critical views of American politics and the role of citizen assemblies in promoting active democracy.

01:04:46

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INSIGHT

Dissent Is Built Into Consent

Hannah Arendt argues that consent in America implies the right to dissent and that dissent is essential to a free government.
Civil disobedience is a political act grounded in the American constitutional experiment, not mere criminality.

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INSIGHT

Civil Disobedience As Lawful Protest

Arendt defines civil disobedience as organized minority action that breaks laws to uphold higher lawfulness.
She insists civil disobedients act politically and should not be punished because they defend constitutional principles.

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ANECDOTE

How Berkowitz Became An Arendt Scholar

Roger Berkowitz recounts learning Arendt at Amherst and later teaching Origins of Totalitarianism at Bard, which transformed his view of her work.
His Bard conference led to taking over the Hannah Arendt Center and deep study of her writings.

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Navigating Literary Waters: Reflections on Moby Dick and Personal Narratives

02:24 • 4min

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Contrasting Civil Disobedience: Thoreau and Arendt

06:13 • 5min

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Rediscovering Hannah Arendt

10:43 • 16min

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The Right to Dissent: Patriotism and Civil Disobedience

27:00 • 2min

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Thoreau and Arendt on Freedom and Responsibility

29:14 • 28min

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Illumination Amidst Darkness: Embracing Human Freedom and Renewal

56:49 • 2min

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Reimagining Citizenship and Moral Action in Democracy

58:50 • 6min

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Thinking in Dark Times, Hannah Arendt on Ethics and Politics

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The Origins of Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt

In this seminal work, Hannah Arendt explores the historical and philosophical roots of totalitarianism. The book is structured into three essays: 'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'. Arendt examines the rise of anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe, the role of European colonial imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. She argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that differs from other forms of political oppression by its use of terror to subjugate mass populations and its aim for global domination. The book also delves into the mechanics of totalitarian movements, including the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror to maintain control.

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Eichmann in Jerusalem

A Report on the Banality of Evil

Hannah Arendt

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Our Revolution

A Future to Believe In

Bernie Sanders

In *Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In*, Bernie Sanders shares his personal experiences from the 2016 presidential campaign trail, recounting the details of his historic primary fight and the people who made it possible. The book outlines a progressive economic, environmental, racial, and social justice agenda aimed at creating jobs, raising wages, protecting the environment, and providing health care for all. Sanders emphasizes that the political revolution has just started and that the struggle to transform the country and the world continues.

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The Human Condition

Hannah Arendt

In 'The Human Condition,' Hannah Arendt provides a comprehensive account of how human activities have been understood throughout Western history. She contrasts the 'vita activa' (active life) with the 'vita contemplativa' (contemplative life) and identifies three primary human activities: labor, work, and action. Arendt discusses how these activities have evolved and been affected by changes in Western history, emphasizing the importance of action in disclosing human identity and creating a 'space of appearances' through speech and deeds. The book addresses issues such as diminishing human agency, political freedom, and the paradox of increased human powers without corresponding control over their consequences.

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Men in dark times

Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt's "Men in Dark Times" is a collection of essays exploring the lives and actions of individuals who resisted totalitarian regimes. Arendt, a renowned political theorist, examines the moral and intellectual challenges faced by those who opposed tyranny. The essays offer profound insights into the nature of evil, the importance of individual conscience, and the complexities of political action. Arendt's work is characterized by its intellectual rigor and its ethical sensitivity. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of totalitarianism and the challenges of moral resistance. It remains highly relevant in contemporary discussions about political ethics and the fight against oppression.

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Walden

Henry David Thoreau

Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance.

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Civil Disobedience

Henry David Thoreau

In 'Civil Disobedience', Thoreau argues that individuals should prioritize their conscience over the dictates of laws. He criticizes American social institutions and policies, particularly slavery and the Mexican-American War. Thoreau contends that government derives its power from the majority rather than from legitimate viewpoints and that people should refuse to follow unjust laws. He recounts his own acts of civil disobedience, including refusing to pay taxes and spending a night in jail, as a model for moral resistance against oppressive laws. Thoreau emphasizes the importance of accepting the consequences of such actions and argues that true reform cannot come from within the government but through individual acts of defiance.

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Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.

“In tyranny, you may not have a whole lot of political freedom, but you can still live a pretty free life under tyranny,” says Roger Berkowitz in this week’s episode of The World in Time. “In your private world, you can live under a dictator and still read what books you want and talk to people as long as you don’t act out in the public sphere. Totalitarianism is quite different. It tries to get inside your head, and make you, and make everyone, believe. And it has secret police, and snitches, and surveillance. And it tries to fully organize society. It’s the most organized and successful attack on freedom that one can imagine. And so for Arendt, you can’t just be an individual and sit in jail and be free if you’re going to protect yourselves from the dangers of totalitarianism and the end of constitutional, free government, which is what she’s worried about. You need to act politically, and you need to act politically with a certain amount of power.” This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn sits down for a conversation with Roger Berkowitz, writer, scholar, and academic director of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities at Bard College. They discuss the life and work of Hannah Arendt and two essays that share a name, “Civil Disobedience”—one by Arendt, the other by Thoreau, both recently collected in a volume that Berkowitz edited and introduced. Their conversation touches broadly on the works of the two writers, on their differences and disagreements, on the political tumults that inspired their famous essays, and on the lessons to be learned from them in the present day.

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