Calligaris and Hannah Arendt

the problem of common evil

Abstract

This work aims to discuss the problem of evil, according to Hannah Arendt and Contardo Calligaris, based on reflections brought by commentators who support hypotheses and contribute to a better understanding of the issue brought. The hypothesis raised revolves around the question about the common evil, carried out by people without explicitly pathological motivation, and how it is born driving forces that normalize violence and legalize exterminations. From the analysis of Calligaris we observed that the practice of common evil interferes not only the practicing subject, but a whole community, in line with Arendt, however his practice sacrifices his personality for a categorical imperative poorly formulated. Arendt’s contribution deconstructs this justification, raised by one of the Nazi officials linked to extermination, Adolf Einchmann, especially when he exposes the irrationality of the official and his banality in dealing with the issue. Thus, we seek to present the discussion under an interpretative and discursive bias, based on bibliographical references and commentators, in addition to the primary source of the authors.