Hannah Arendt, Ph.D. Closed Now

Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) was a German-American political philosopher whose writings on totalitarianism, justice, and responsibility continue to shape contemporary debates on transitional justice, human rights, and political ethics. A refugee from Nazi Germany, Arendt’s life and work embodied the struggle to understand and respond to mass atrocities in the modern age.

Educated in philosophy under Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers, Arendt fled Germany in 1933 after being imprisoned by the Gestapo for her work with Jewish organizations. She settled in the United States in 1941, where she became a prolific writer and thinker on politics, power, and human dignity.

Her most famous works include The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), which analyzed the roots of Nazi and Stalinist regimes, and Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963), her account of the trial of Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann. The latter introduced the controversial but enduring concept of the “banality of evil,” suggesting that atrocities are often carried out not by fanatical ideologues but by ordinary individuals following orders without moral reflection.

Arendt’s reflections on the Eichmann trial became foundational for transitional justice debates, raising questions about the purpose of trials, the limits of legal frameworks, and the relationship between justice, memory, and reconciliation. She argued that accountability is necessary not only for victims but also for rebuilding a political community rooted in responsibility and truth.

Beyond her work on justice after atrocity, Arendt contributed to political theory with concepts such as the public sphere, natality, and the importance of active citizenship. She believed that true justice requires political participation and a commitment to shared responsibility.

As a professor at institutions including the University of Chicago, Wesleyan University, and the New School for Social Research, Arendt shaped generations of scholars and activists. Her intellectual legacy bridges philosophy, history, and law, making her a central figure in both political theory and transitional justice discourse.