In this episode, we discuss the first part of "The Crisis in Culture: Its Social and Political Significance" from Hannah Arendt's Between Past and Future, including artists' rebellion against society, the erosion of a shared cultural world, and the impacts of consumption and entertainment on enduring cultural objects. Roger Berkowitz highlights how Arendt sees crises as opportunities for deeper thinking and explores the potential for arts and sciences to resist societal pressures, despite the gr...
Nov 29, 2024•58 min•Ep. 66
In this episode, we discuss Hannah Arendt's essay "The Crisis in Education" from her book Between Past and Future. Roger Berkowitz explores Arendt's views on the essence of education, the challenges posed by modern educational practices, and the necessity of balancing conservatism with revolutionary potential in teaching. Additionally, we reflect on the recent passing of Jerome Kohn and his contributions to the Hannah Arendt Center. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, th...
Nov 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 65
Continuing with the essay "What is Freedom" in Hannah Arendt's Between Past and Future, Roger Berkowitz explains Arendt's views on the disappearance of authority in modern society and the evolving understanding of freedom as the courage to act publicly with impact, highlighting the essential connection between political action and human freedom. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thou...
Nov 15, 2024•57 min•Ep. 64
Focusing on the first two parts of the essay, "What is Freedom," in Hannah Arendt's Between Past and Future, Roger Berkowitz discusses Arendt's bold argument that true freedom is rooted in public action rather than individual will or intellectual motives. Berkowitz outlines Arendt's thought process, discussing how philosophical tradition has misunderstood freedom, perceiving it as an attribute of individual thought rather than political action. Exploring the origins of the modern idea of freedom...
Nov 08, 2024•55 min•Ep. 63
In this week's episode, Roger Berkowitz examines the notion of authority and its significance in political life. He discusses how the loss of authority impacts modern democracy and explores the differences between Platonic, Aristotelian, and Roman conceptions of authority. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations. Released weekly, each episode provides listen...
Nov 01, 2024•49 min•Ep. 62
A talk given by Roger Berkowitz at the conference, Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism: How Can We Imagine a Pluralist Politics? The Hannah Arendt Center's 16th annual fall conference was held at Bard College on October 17 + 18, 2024, sponsored by the Hannah Arendt Center, the Open Society University Network (OSUN), and the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging in...
Oct 25, 2024•28 min•Ep. 61
In this week's master class, Roger Berkowitz delves into Hannah Arendt's critical examination of authority, tradition, and the political implications of their loss, drawing from her classic Between Past and Future, What is Authority, Parts 1 and 2. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations. Released weekly, each episode provides listeners with a deeper underst...
Oct 18, 2024•47 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, Roger Berkowitz discusses, through a close reading of Parts III and Epilogue of Chapter 2, "The Concept of History: Ancient and Modern," in Hannah Arendt's Between Past and Future, how modern society's pursuit of logical historical narratives can lead to totalitarianism by devaluing individual deeds and experiences in favor of overarching ideological plots. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside...
Oct 11, 2024•55 min•Ep. 59
Host Roger Berkowitz hosts a conversation with Sebastian Junger about his work and insights on tribalism. Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of THE PERFECT STORM, FIRE, A DEATH IN BELMONT, WAR, TRIBE, FREEDOM and, most recently, IN MY TIME OF DYING. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world, and has received both a National Magazine Award ...
Oct 04, 2024•44 min•Ep. 58
A close reading and discussion of Parts I and II of the second chapter, "The Concept of History: Ancient and Modern," in Hannah Arendt's seminal text, Between Past and Future. In this episode, we discuss the shift from individual deeds to historical processes and the resulting implications for modern society. The conversation touches on themes of humanity's impact on nature, the dangers of scientific intervention, and the philosophical shifts in understanding progress and history. ABOUT: Produce...
Sep 27, 2024•56 min•Ep. 57
A close reading and discussion of the first chapter in Hannah Arendt's seminal text, Between Past and Future, which describes the perplexing crises modern society faces. Through a series of eight exercises, Arendt shows how we can redistill the vital essence of political concepts and use them to regain a frame of reference for the future. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-pro...
Sep 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 56
The first discussion of Between Past and Future, which describes the perplexing crises modern society faces as a result of the loss of meaning of the traditional key words of politics: justice, reason, responsibility, virtue, and glory. Through a series of eight exercises, Arendt shows how we can redistill the vital essence of these concepts and use them to regain a frame of reference for the future. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings ...
Sep 13, 2024•50 min•Ep. 55
This bonus episode explores the concept of power and control in the context of the American political system. Host Roger Berkowitz argues that the Arendtian perspective on politics is not abstract - we see it in our world today. He discusses the tension between elites and the working class in American history, drawing on the work of Hannah Arendt and historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. He argues that while both major parties in the US are using Jacksonian rhetoric, they are neglecting the core prin...
Sep 06, 2024•29 min•Ep. 54
The Hannah Arendt Center's Virtual Reading Group just finished reading and discussing Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, and we collected questions from our members and podcast listeners for a new regular feature of our podcast: Q&A with Roger and Jana! Hear listener questions about our latest read in this bonus episode. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking con...
Aug 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 53
With our reading group on hiatus this August, we bring you another special episode of the podcast! In this episode we delve into race and language. Recorded live at the Alpine Fellowship Foundation Symposium on Language in Tuscany in July 2024, this episode features a conversation with New York Times columnist and linguist John McWhorter and cultural commentator Ayishat Akanbi (who will be speaking at our conference on Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism in October). Together with your host Roger Berk...
Aug 23, 2024•47 min•Ep. 52
Why create a fake Hannah Arendt quotation when so many real ones express a similar viewpoint? And, does it matter? While on break from our chapter readings , we bring you a special episode of the podcast, where host Roger Berkowitz explores the implications of fake Hannah Arendt quotations. Drawn from his essay on the topic for Amor Mundi , this episode delves into best and worst practices around the impulse to make classic thinkers "more accessible" and how that ultimately influences culture. A...
Aug 16, 2024•41 min•Ep. 51
On break from our chapter readings, we continue our series of bonus episodes with a conversation between our host, Roger Berkowitz, and Bill T. Jones, the Tony Award-winning artist, choreographer, and longtime Hannah Arendt Center member. Bill's a regular at the Hannah Arendt Center's Virtual Reading Group - a weekly gathering where members have been delving into the works of Hannah Arendt since 2014. This conversation explores the art of respectful disagreement and making space for others, as w...
Aug 09, 2024•24 min•Ep. 50
A discussion of Bettina Stangneth's Eichmann Before Jerusalem: The Unexamined Life of a Mass Murderer (New York: Random House 2014) Chapter 2, Eichmann in Conversation, p. 234-311 ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations. Released weekly, each episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of Arendt's philosophy and its relevance to contemporary issue...
Aug 02, 2024•59 min•Ep. 49
Eichmann in Jerusalem, final chapter: Postscript ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt's books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations. Released weekly, each episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of Arendt's philosophy and its relevance to contemporary issues. Available on all major podcast platforms, listeners join us on a captivating intellectual journey through the mind of Hannah Are...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 48
This week we bring you a bonus episode! The first in a new series of engaging interviews and thought-provoking conversations between your host, Roger Berkowitz, and renowned scholars and public intellectuals - to supplement our close readings of Arendt's books! In this premiere bonus conversation, Roger Berkowitz and Leon Botstein, President of Bard College , have an honest discussion about their personal experience with Hannah Arendt and why her work remains vitally important today. Their conve...
Jul 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 47
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with the Epilogue Eichmann in Jerusalem. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Invention: Lying, Technology, and ...
Jul 05, 2024•59 min•Ep. 46
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with the Chapter in Eichmann in Jerusalem titled Judgment, Appeal, And Execution. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Per...
Jun 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 45
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 11 of Eichmann in Jerusalem: Evidence And Witnesses. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Invention...
Jun 14, 2024•58 min•Ep. 44
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 10 of Eichmann in Jerusalem: The Killing Centers. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Invention: L...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 43
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 9 of Eichmann in Jerusalem: Deportations. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Invention: Lying, Te...
May 31, 2024•50 min•Ep. 42
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 8 of Eichmann in Jerusalem: Duties of a Law-Abiding Citizen. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of I...
May 24, 2024•54 min•Ep. 41
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 7 of Eichmann In Jerusalem: The Wannsee Conference, Or Pontius Pilate. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The P...
May 17, 2024•59 min•Ep. 40
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 6 of Eichmann In Jerusalem: The Final Solution: Killing. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Inven...
May 10, 2024•55 min•Ep. 39
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 4 of Eichmann In Jerusalem: The Second Solution: Concentration. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils o...
May 03, 2024•50 min•Ep. 38
This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz deals with Chapter 3 of Eichmann In Jerusalem: The First Solution: Expulsion. Our podcast follows the book that we are reading in our current Virtual Reading Group (VRG), which meets weekly on Fridays at 1 PM EST. We are currently reading Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil. THE HOST Roger Berkowitz is Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. He is editor of The Perils of Inv...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 37
