compersion & limerence

The first of many long, quote-happy, and cut-happy notes/study-guide-esque post on The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt. Is this too long? Definitely! Is it helpful for future me? Also definitely! Is it helpful for current you? I have *no idea*, but here we go.

Anti-Semitism as an outrage to common sense

Many still consider it an accident that Nazi ideology centered around anti-Semitism and that Nazi policy, consistently and uncompromisingly, aimed at the persecution and finally the extermination of the Jews...their chief interest—persecution of Jews all over the world—have been regarded by public opinion as a pretext for winning the masses or an interesting device of demagogy...
Compared with the events themselves, all explanations of antisemitism look as if they have been hastily and hazardously contrived, to cover up an issue which so gravely threatens our sense of proportion and our hope for sanity.

( nationalism ≠ antisemitism )
( background of motives for violent hatred )
( scapegoat fallacy: it could have been anyone! )
( terror as a major weapon of government )
( and on the other hand, eternal antisemitism is also fallacious )
On to the even more controversial bits!
( the necessity of jewish responsibility for maintaining of human dignity )
( caution in handling opinions )
( and an outline of the next few chapters on the historical relationship between Jews & society )
( controversial ruminating here )


( actual whisperspace )