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Philosopher Immanuel Kant And Radical Evil

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Philosopher Immanuel Kant was the first to introduce the concept of "radical good" and "radical evil." His ethical theory is grounded in an individual's capacity for reason. In Kant's version, he argues that humans are rational creatures who value the dignity and the value of every human being. Kant holds that these principles are the basis for pursuing the greatest good. Furthermore, Kant believed that radical good is a state of moral perfection and respect for human life. Kant argues that pursuing his version of radical good requires the cultivation of goodwill and solid moral philosophy. Kant believes humanity's basic inclination is towards evil and amoral philosophies, which he deems "radical evil." For Kant, radical evil is not …show more content…

Her philosophies of ethics differ in that she believes, justifiably, that people as a whole do not have a moral inclination for the value of human life. Instead, she believes in her version of "radical evil," which lies in an individual's capacity to be corrupted in ideology by the masses. Arendt establishes that human beings by nature have different ideologies, often conflicting, that can coexist due to humanity's nature of debating necessities with political action. It is how she rationalizes seemingly tolerant people, like her ex-boyfriend, who can switch their personas and justify the mass extinctions of Jews while previously being indifferent about or less hateful about this very identity they have deemed less than human. Arendt saw "radical evil" as distinct from the standard forms of evil that exist in the world, such as crime or corruption. "Radical evil," in her view, involves the systematic destruction of the foundations of human existence and the reduction of human beings to mere objects. Arendt argued that the Nazi regime and Stalinist communism represented radical evil because they sought to destroy human individuality and dignity on a massive

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King writes that Arendt’s idea of the “banality of evil” is perhaps the most brilliant, original, and terrifying idea of the 20th century. It demands further attention and explanation (King 216-217). However, the core of her argument defies how the Jewish community has decided to remember Eichmann and the Holocaust. That alone will cause controversy no matter when or how clearly it is

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