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2024-09-22 08:21:10

Hannah Arendt

German-American historian and philosopher
German-American historian and philosopher

Hannah Arendt was a prominent political theorist known for her works on power, evil, politics, and totalitarianism. Born in Germany, she fled Nazi persecution and settled in the US, where she became a respected writer and thinker.

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1776
American Revolution

Arendt discusses the American Revolution as a concrete example of a revolution that founded a new political space based on the constitution of liberty, where freedom could manifest as a worldly reality.

1871
Paris Commune

Arendt mentions the Paris Commune of 1871 as an example of a popular uprising that attempted to establish a new political order, reflecting the idea of creating a space where freedom could be realized.

1906-10-14
Birth of Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt was born on October 14, 1906, in Hanover, Germany.

1909
Paul Arendt's Deteriorating Health

Paul Arendt's health declined due to chronic syphilis, leading to his institutionalization in the Königsberg psychiatric hospital in 1911.

1910
Hannah Arendt's Kindergarten Education

Hannah Arendt attended kindergarten in 1910, where her precocity impressed her teachers.

1913-10-30
Death of Paul Arendt

Paul Arendt passed away on October 30, 1913, when Hannah was seven years old, leaving her mother to raise her.

1914-08-23
Family Fleeing to Berlin during World War I

In August 1914, the Arendt family fled to Berlin due to the advancing Russian army during World War I. They stayed with Hannah's aunt and her children until returning to Königsberg when the threat subsided.

1917
Russian Soviets Creation

Arendt refers to the creation of Soviets during the Russian Revolution as a case where a new political space was being formed, emphasizing the importance of such revolutionary actions in confronting the challenge of beginning.

1920
Marriage of Martha Cohn to Martin Beerwald

In 1920, Hannah's mother, Martha Cohn, married Martin Beerwald, providing Hannah with improved social and financial security.

1922
Expulsion from Luise-Schule

Hannah Arendt was expelled from the Luise-Schule in 1922 at the age of 15 for leading a boycott of a teacher who insulted her.

1923
Encounter with Heidegger

In 1923, Hannah Arendt began a romantic relationship with the philosopher Martin Heidegger, who was significantly older and married at the time. This relationship had a profound impact on her intellectual development.

1924
Study with Martin Heidegger

In 1924, Hannah Arendt began her studies at Marburg University under the mentorship of Martin Heidegger, which significantly shaped her philosophical perspectives.

1925
Composition of Die Schatten (The Shadows)

In the summer of 1925, Hannah Arendt composed her sole autobiographical piece, Die Schatten (The Shadows), addressing it to Heidegger. The essay delves into her insecurities regarding her femininity and Jewishness, expressing feelings of alienation and longing for protection.

1926
Lectures of Edmund Husserl

In the spring of 1926, Hannah Arendt attended lectures by Edmund Husserl at Freiburg University, further enriching her academic pursuits.

1927
Heidegger's Influence on Arendt

Heidegger's profound impact on Arendt's thought can be seen in their shared suspicion of the metaphysical tradition's move towards abstract contemplation and their emphasis on plurality and difference in worldly appearances.

1928
Hannah Arendt Receives Doctoral Degree

In 1928, Hannah Arendt received a doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Heidelberg. She was a prominent figure in the field of political science and philosophy.

1929
Hannah Arendt Obtains Doctorate in Philosophy

In 1929, Hannah Arendt obtained her doctorate in philosophy at the University of Heidelberg with a dissertation entitled Love and Saint Augustine under the supervision of Karl Jaspers.

1931
Return to Berlin

In 1931, Hannah Arendt and Stern returned to Berlin after their unsuccessful attempt to have Stern accepted for an academic appointment. They initially lived in the predominantly Jewish area of Bayerisches Viertel in Schöneberg.

1932
Publication of Aufklärung und Judenfrage

Hannah Arendt published her first article on Judaism, titled Aufklärung und Judenfrage ('The Enlightenment and the Jewish Question'). This marked the beginning of her exploration of Jewish politics and assimilation.

1933-03-07
Publication of 'Originale Assimilation'

Hannah Arendt published part of her biography of Rahel Varnhagen as 'Originale Assimilation: An Epilogue to the One Hundredth Anniversary of Rahel Varnhagen's Death'. She introduced the concept of Jew as Pariah in this work.

1936
Meeting Heinrich Blücher

Hannah Arendt met Heinrich Blücher, a poet and Marxist philosopher, in Paris. Their relationship grew over time, eventually leading to marriage in 1940. Blücher's political activism influenced Arendt's own thinking and commitment to political action.

1940-01-16
Marriage of Hannah Arendt to Heinrich Blücher

On January 16, 1940, Hannah Arendt married Heinrich Blücher, a Berlin proletarian and communist. Their marriage endured the challenges of war and displacement.

1941
Hannah Arendt fleeing Nazi regime to America

During WWII, Hannah Arendt, who was Jewish, fled the Nazi regime and eventually moved to America in 1941.

1944
Arendt begins work on The Origins of Totalitarianism

In 1944, Hannah Arendt started working on what would later become her first major political book, The Origins of Totalitarianism.

1945
Arendt's statement on the problem of evil

In 1945, Hannah Arendt stated that the problem of evil would be the fundamental question of postwar intellectual life in Europe.

1946-07
Arendt becomes editor at Schocken Books

In July 1946, Hannah Arendt left her position at the Commission on European Jewish Cultural Reconstruction to work as an editor at Schocken Books, which later published some of her works.

1948
Arendt engages in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict campaign

In 1948, Hannah Arendt became engaged with the campaign of Judah Magnes for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for a binational one-state solution.

1950
Arendt resumed contact with Heidegger

In 1950, Hannah Arendt reestablished communication with Martin Heidegger. She later defended him in her essays and lectures, attributing his Nazi involvement to a 'mistake' made by a renowned philosopher.

1951
Publication of 'The Origins of Totalitarianism'

In 1951, Hannah Arendt's seminal work 'The Origins of Totalitarianism' was published. This book explored the rise of totalitarian regimes and solidified Arendt's reputation as a prominent American intellectual.

1952-01
Arendt becomes secretary to the Board

In January 1952, Hannah Arendt became secretary to the Board of the Commission on European Jewish Cultural Reconstruction, while also pursuing her own intellectual activities.

1953
Hannah Arendt becomes the first woman appointed as a professor at Princeton

In 1953, Hannah Arendt made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed as a professor at Princeton. Despite media attention on this exceptional achievement, Arendt did not want to be seen as an exception based on her gender or religion.

1955
Edition of Hermann Broch, Dichten und Erkennen

In 1955, Hannah Arendt published an edition of Hermann Broch's 'Dichten und Erkennen', which consisted of essays and was released by Rheinverlag in Zurich.

1957
Publication of 'Rahel Varnhagen: The Life of a Jewess'

Arendt's work on Rahel Varnhagen was completed in 1938 but not published until 1957. This biography of a 19th-century Jewish socialite formed an important step in her analysis of Jewish history and the subjects of assimilation and emancipation.

1958
Release of The Human Condition

The Human Condition, considered the most important philosophical work by the professor, was released in 1958.

1959
Publication of Reflections on Little Rock

In 1959, Hannah Arendt published 'Reflections on Little Rock,' a controversial piece discussing the emerging Black civil rights movement.

1960
Freedom and Politics: A Lecture

Hannah Arendt delivered a lecture on Freedom and Politics in 1960, which was later revised for the book Between Past and Future.

1961
Eichmann in Jerusalem

Hannah Arendt's report on the trial of a major Nazi perpetrator, where she introduced the controversial term 'banality of evil'.

1962-05-31
Execution of Eichmann

Eichmann was hanged on May 31, 1962, nine months before the publication of Arendt's series 'Eichmann in Jerusalem'.

1963-02-16
Hannah Arendt's Account of Adolf Eichmann Trial Published

Philosopher Hannah Arendt's controversial account of the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is first published in 'The New Yorker' in 1963.

1964-08-06
Publication in The Listener

The essay 'Personal Responsibility under Dictatorship' was published in The Listener on August 6, 1964.

1964-10-28
Hannah Arendt Full Interview

A full interview with Hannah Arendt was conducted on October 28, 1964, providing insights into her life and work. The interview is available with English subtitles.

1965
Revised and Enlarged Edition of Eichmann in Jerusalem

In 1965, a revised and enlarged edition of 'Eichmann in Jerusalem' was released by Viking Press.

1967-07
Hannah Arendt gives lecture on Walter Benjamin in Freiburg

In July 1967, Hannah Arendt comes to Freiburg and gives a lecture on Walter Benjamin.

1968
Publication of Men in Dark Times

In 1968, Hannah Arendt published 'Men in Dark Times,' adding to her body of work that delves into complex political and philosophical themes.

1970-10-31
Death of Heinrich Blücher

Heinrich Blücher, Arendt's husband, passed away on October 31, 1970, due to a massive heart attack, leaving Arendt devastated.

1971-04
Arendt visits Heidegger in Freiburg

In April 1971, Hannah Arendt visits Martin Heidegger in Freiburg.

1972-04-05
Washington's 'Problem-Solvers'-Where They Went Wrong

An opinion piece published in the New York Times on April 5, 1972, discussing the failures of Washington's 'Problem-Solvers'.

1973
Publication of Third Edition with New Prefaces

Brace Jovanovich published the third edition of a book with new prefaces in 1973.

1974-05
Arendt's Near-Fatal Heart Attack

In May 1974, Hannah Arendt suffered a near-fatal heart attack while lecturing in Scotland, which significantly impacted her health.

1975-12-04
Death of Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt passed away on December 4, 1975, leaving behind a legacy of profound philosophical and political contributions.

1976-05
Burial of Hannah Arendt

Arendt's ashes were buried alongside her husband, Heinrich Blücher, at Bard College in May 1976.

1977
Small Comforts for Hard Times: Humanists on Public Policy

A book titled 'Small Comforts for Hard Times: Humanists on Public Policy' edited by F. Stuber was published by Columbia University Press in 1977.

1978-10-26
From an Interview

An interview with Roger Errera published in the New York Review of Books in October 1978.

1979
Publication of Hannah Arendt: The Recovery of the by M. Hill

The book 'Hannah Arendt: The Recovery of the' edited by M. Hill was published in 1979.

1980
Hannah Arendt Memorial Lecture

A lecture held in 1980 to commemorate the significance of ontology in epistemological research.

1981
Hannah Arendt and the Search for a New Political Philosophy

A book by B. Parekh published in 1981, focusing on Hannah Arendt's quest for a fresh political philosophy.

1982
Publication of Lectures on Kant’s Political Philosophy

Background material and lecture notes related to Judging, left unfinished by Hannah Arendt, were published in 1982 under the title 'Lectures on Kant’s Political Philosophy'.

1983
Publication of An Admirable Woman

Arthur A. Cohen's novel 'An Admirable Woman' was published in 1983, inspired by the life of Hannah Arendt, portraying her intellectual allure and personal relationships.

1984
Publication of 'Hannah Arendt: Politics, Conscience, Evil'

In 1984, the book 'Hannah Arendt: Politics, Conscience, Evil' was published in Oxford by Martin Robertson, authored by Kateb. G. It delves into the political and ethical thoughts of Hannah Arendt.

1986
Publication of Bernstein's work

In 1986, Richard J. Bernstein published a work that is related to the concept of vita activa and its three fundamental activities: labor, work, and action.

1987
Hannah Arendt reports on Eichmann trial

Hannah Arendt volunteered to cover the trial of Adolf Eichmann to understand the nature of radical evil. Contrary to expectations, she did not see a monstrous figure but a person with a disturbing inability to think critically.

1988
The Public Realm and The Public Self: The

A work by Seyla Benhabib that examines the concept of the public realm and its implications on the individual self.

1989
Publication of 'Hannah Arendt: Thinking, Judging, Freedom'

The book 'Hannah Arendt: Thinking, Judging, Freedom' was published in 1989 in Sydney by Allen & Unwin, edited by Kaplan, G. and Kessler, C. It focuses on the philosophical ideas of Hannah Arendt.

1990
Publication of Visible Spaces: Hannah Arendt and the German-Jewish Experience

In 1990, the book 'Visible Spaces: Hannah Arendt and the German-Jewish Experience' by D. Barnouw was published, focusing on Hannah Arendt and her experiences as a German-Jewish individual.

1992
Publication of 'Hannah Arendt' by D. Watson

In 1992, D. Watson published a book titled 'Hannah Arendt' in London under the Fontana Press. The book likely explores the life and ideas of the influential political theorist Hannah Arendt.

1993
Publication of The Political Thought of Hannah Arendt by M. Gottsegen

The book 'The Political Thought of Hannah Arendt' by M. Gottsegen was published in 1993 by State University of New York Press.

1994
Essays in Understanding 1930–1954: Formation, Exile, and Totalitarianism

Essays in Understanding 1930–1954 is a collection of essays by Hannah Arendt covering the period from 1930 to 1954. The essays provide insights into her thoughts on totalitarianism and exile, preceding her monumental work The Origins of Totalitarianism.

1995
Publication of 'Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss: German Emigrés and American Political Thought after World War II'

The book 'Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss: German Emigrés and American Political Thought after World War II' was published in 1995 in Cambridge by Cambridge University Press. It explores the intellectual exchange between Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss post World War II.

1996
Publication of The Reluctant Modernism of Hannah Arendt

In 1996, the book 'The Reluctant Modernism of Hannah Arendt' by S. Benhabib was published, exploring the modernist aspects of Hannah Arendt's work.

1997
Hannah Arendt and the Meaning of Politics

The collaborative work 'Hannah Arendt and the Meaning of Politics' edited by C. Calhoun and J. McGowan was released in 1997, exploring Arendt's perspectives on politics.

1998
Walter Laqueur's statement on Hannah Arendt's influence

In 1998, Walter Laqueur stated that Hannah Arendt is one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century, with a wide echo in various fields. Her legacy is considered cult-like.

1999
Translation of Arendt's works into Hebrew

Due to lingering criticism and controversy, none of Arendt's works, including 'Eichmann in Jerusalem', were translated into Hebrew until 1999.

2000
Criticism of Arendt's Defense of Eichmann

Critics accused Hannah Arendt of wrongly portraying Eichmann as just a bureaucrat instead of a fanatically anti-Semitic individual. Arendt refuted the claim that Eichmann was merely following orders.

2001
Judgment, Imagination, and Politics: Themes from Kant and Arendt

A book edited by J. Nedelsky and R. Beiner in 2001, exploring themes from the philosophies of Immanuel Kant and Hannah Arendt.

2002
Turning Operations: Feminism, Arendt, and Politics

A book by Mary Dietz that explores the intersection of feminism, the political philosophy of Hannah Arendt, and politics.

2003
Publication of Responsibility and Judgment

In 2003, a collection of essays and lectures on moral topics by Hannah Arendt, titled 'Responsibility and Judgment', was published. These writings reflect her thoughts on ethics and responsibility in the post-World War II era.

2005
Introduction by Jerome Kohn

Jerome Kohn wrote an introduction for a publication in 2005 by Schocken Books in New York.

2006
Becoming Eichmann: Rethinking the Life, Crimes and Trial of a 'Desk Murderer'

A book by David Cesarani that provides a new perspective on the life, crimes, and trial of Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Holocaust.

2007
The Jewish Writings

The Jewish Writings is a collection of Hannah Arendt's writings on being Jewish, published in 2007. It offers insights into her thoughts and perspectives on Jewish identity.

2009
Thinking in Dark Times: Hannah Arendt on Ethics and Politics

The book 'Thinking in Dark Times: Hannah Arendt on Ethics and Politics' was published in 2009. It delves into Hannah Arendt's perspectives on ethics and politics during difficult times.

2010
Politics in Dark Times: Encounters with Hannah Arendt

The book 'Politics in Dark Times: Encounters with Hannah Arendt' was published in 2010. It explores encounters with the ideas and philosophy of Hannah Arendt during challenging times.

2011
Criticism of Arendt's Defense of Eichmann

Critics continued to question Hannah Arendt's interpretation of Eichmann, arguing that she failed to recognize his true anti-Semitic nature and zeal in transporting Jews to their deaths.

2012
German film Hannah Arendt released

The German film, Hannah Arendt, directed by Margarethe von Trotta and starring Barbara Sukowa, depicted the controversy over Arendt's coverage of the Eichmann trial and subsequent book. It highlighted the misunderstanding of her views on Eichmann and the Holocaust.

2013
Wille und Passion. Der Liebesbegriff bei Heidegger und Arendt

The book 'Wille und Passion. Der Liebesbegriff bei Heidegger und Arendt' by T. N. Tömmel was published in 2013, exploring the concept of love in the works of Heidegger and Arendt.

2014
Criticism of Arendt's Defense of Eichmann

Scholars like Bettina Stangneth criticized Hannah Arendt for not acknowledging Eichmann's active role in the Holocaust and his disobedience of orders related to the 'Final Solution'.

2015
Wilfried Gerstel's Installation Featuring Hannah Arendt's Words on Obedience

In 2015, artist Wilfried Gerstel created an installation evoking the concept of resistance to dictatorship, inspired by Hannah Arendt's essay 'Personal Responsibility under Dictatorship' and her views on obedience.

2016
A. O. Scott's review of Hannah Arendt

In a 2016 review, journalist A. O. Scott described Hannah Arendt as a thinker of unmatched range and rigor, known for her work on Eichmann and the concept of 'the banality of evil'.

2017
Alteration of Fascist Bas-Relief to Hannah Arendt's Words on Obedience

In 2017, a fascist bas-relief in Italy celebrating Mussolini was altered to display Hannah Arendt's original words on obedience in three official languages of the region, reflecting her philosophical stance.

2018-08-11
Hannah Arendt Contributions

Hannah Arendt's contributions are highlighted in The New York Review of Books, showcasing her impact on philosophy and political theory.

2023
TV series Transatlantic portrays Arendt

In the TV series Transatlantic, Hannah Arendt is portrayed by Alexa Karolinski. The series likely delves into Arendt's life, relationships, and intellectual contributions.

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Hannah Arendt
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