Books

“It is quite con­ceivable that the modern age—which began with such an unprece­dented and promising outburst of human activity—may end in the deadliest, most sterile passivity history has ever known.” 

- Hannah Arendt

The Human Condition was probably one of the most challenging reads for me this year - in terms of wondering whether I actually spoke German - she's a very poetic writer, which makes it hard at times to grasp what she says -  and the mental processing required. 

Still, I think it's a book that I'll go back to repeatedly as she put into words things I felt but never could. 

If anyone needs a 2025 philosophy reading project, that'd be my suggestion.

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There has been a lot in her book that felt like she is describing modern life. And the things she warned about, alienation, creating vicinity where we used to have distance, which then leads us to lose something - not everything can be captured (or should be) - it interestingly perfectly complements the ideas of the sociologist Hartmut Rosa that I've been exploring this weekend. 

he said that often happiness is experienced when we're at the edge of what's available and what isn't to us. For example: love, we cannot love what we fully control. It's because they are not fully ours, not fully available to us. 

Anyway, will also read some more of her works. Next I'm thinking on the origins of totalitarianism. Seems relevant

Thanks for sharing about Hannah Arendt, I have been exploring and keep a planning eye for her in the coming months. Definitely might be a good dive into this depth