Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz Tradition and the Modern Age | Between Past and Future, Chapter 1
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Sep 20, 2024 Dive into a captivating analysis of Hannah Arendt's exploration of tradition and modernity. The conversation highlights the evolution of thought from ancient times to modern crises, emphasizing freedom and authority. Wrestle with the complex relationships between traditional frameworks and contemporary philosophical struggles. The impact of totalitarianism on ethical norms is examined, alongside the enduring influence of tradition on modern ideologies. This intellectually stimulating dialogue unpacks profound themes and challenges facing society today.
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Modern Age Versus Modern World
- Arendt distinguishes the "modern age" (17th–19th c. science, Enlightenment, industrial revolutions) from the "modern world" born in the 20th century's catastrophes.
- The modern world marks an irrevocable break in Western tradition caused by totalitarianism and the atom bomb.
Three Thinkers As Guideposts
- Kierkegaard, Marx, and Nietzsche stand at the end of tradition but they do not cause the break; they perceive a tradition that no longer answers modern problems.
- Their greatness is seeing the tradition's failure while remaining within its conceptual framework.
We Live After The Break
- Unlike those three thinkers, we live after the break: tradition no longer holds or even provides a visible beginning.
- That radical loss means we often don't even know what we're fighting for anymore.
