This episode's chapter reading of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind, focuses on the critical exploration of the concept of willing, examining its historical development from Greek to Christian philosophers like Epictetus, St. Paul, and Augustine. Host Roger Berkowitz discusses the nuances between thinking and willing, and the role of love in uni…

Host Roger Berkowitz leads a discussion on Hannah Arendt's book, The Life of the Mind, focusing on the sections dealing with Aristotle and St. Paul's views on the will. They discuss the philosophical evolution of the will, its significance in Christian thought, and its implications for understanding freedom, desire, and political action. The conver…

Every Friday, host Roger Berkowitz invites you into a deeper understanding of the works of German Jewish political theorist Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) and its relevance to contemporary issues. Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers close readings of Arendt’s books alongside engaging interviews and thought-provoking…

In this week's chapter reading of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind, host Roger Berkowitz, focuses the session on Part II, Willing, Chapter 1, The Philosophers and the Will. Discussing the difficulties accessing the will in philosophy, Berkowitz addresses its role in the context of freedom, new beginnings, and evil. He delves into the historical…

This week we're sharing a recording from our friends at Montez Press Radio, an experimental broadcasting and performance platform founded in 2018 with the goal of fostering greater experimentation and conversation between artists, writers, and thinkers through the medium of radio. In the first of their new series, Love Thy Network, one of three exc…

In this bonus episode, host Roger Berkowitz speaks with Ian Buruma, a writer, journalist, educator, and award-winning thinker, as well as the Paul W. Williams Professor of Human Rights and Journalism at Bard College. Buruma shares his insights on civility and decency in society, drawing from his personal experiences in post-Nazi-occupied Europe. Th…

We begin the second book in Hannah Arendt's unfinished manuscript, The Life of the Mind. This week's episode provides an overview of Part II on Willing, focusing on the concept of the will and its importance to her larger project of political thinking. Host Roger Berkowitz discusses the historical development of the will from the Greeks to the Chri…

In this conversation between Roger Berkowitz and James Fishkin, a Stanford University expert on deliberative polling and deliberative democracy, they discuss the effectiveness for addressing the ills of democracy. Fishkin highlights four primary problems in modern democracy: the difficulty in determining the will of the people; extreme partisan pol…

In this episode, Roger Berkowitz leads a discussion on the concluding sections of the book on Thinking, part of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. Berkowitz elaborates on Arendt's insights into the nature of thinking and its relation to the real world. Berkowitz highlights Arendt's belief that thinking interrupts conventional processes and chall…

This episode centers on Hannah Arendt's exploration of Socrates as a model for thinking, outlined in Sections 18 and 19 of Chapter 3 in The Life of the Mind. Arendt argues that Socratic thinking, characterized by the internal dialogue of the 'two in one,' is crucial for understanding human thinking. Host Roger Berkowitz contrasts this with Greek an…

In this episode, Roger Berkowitz continues with a close reading of Sections 16-17 of Hannah Arendt's unfinished book, The Life of the Mind. Berkowitz explores the key themes of the first part of the book, Thinking, focusing on Chapter 3, titled What Makes Us Think? He discusses the three driving questions of Arendt's work: whether thinking prevents…

We're on to Chapter III of The Life of the Mind: What Makes Us Think? In this episode, we examine Sections 14 and 15. Roger Berkowitz discusses key themes, such as the relationship between being and appearance, the authenticity and fallacy of the thinking ego, and thinking's quest for meaning. He delves into the importance of metaphors in language …

In this bonus episode of the podcast, we're sharing a discussion between host Roger Berkowitz and one of the General Editors of the Critical Edition of Hannah Arendt's Complete Works, Thomas Wild, and two of the co-editors of the new edition of The Life of the Mind, Thomas Bartscherer and Wout Cornelissen. The conversation explores the significance…

In this episode, we continue exploring Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind, focusing on the nature, meaning, and purpose of thinking. Host Roger Berkowitz emphasizes Arendt's exploration of thinking as an end in itself, comparing it to the breath of life. He discusses the limitations of language and metaphors in capturing the ineffable nature of t…

In this episode, we discuss Sections 11-12 of Chapter 2 of The Life of the Mind, Hannah Arendt's final work. Host Roger Berkowitz emphasizes the notion that thinking involves a radical withdrawal from the world of appearances, and examines metaphors as fundamental to philosophical language. Berkowitz touches on how philosophical thinking, unlike ev…

In this episode, we focus on the second chapter of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. The discussion is a critical exploration of Arendt's examination of thinking as an integral, yet radically autonomous, aspect of human life that is separated from the world of reality and appearances. Host Roger Berkowitz highlights Arendt's premise that thinki…

This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz continues our analysis of the first chapter of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. Roger Berkowitz discusses Arendt's exploration into the nature of thinking, how it differs from contemplation, and its elusive appearance in the world. He delves into Arendt's belief that thinking is an act…

This bonus episode of the podcast features an in-depth conversation with Celso Lafer, a former student of Hannah Arendt. The discussion covers Lafer's experiences studying with her at Cornell University, as well as his contributions to translating her works into Portuguese, and the influence of her ideas on his multifaceted career in academia and p…

This episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz focuses on a close reading of sections 6 and 7 of the first chapter of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. Berkowitz, speaking from Buenos Aires, dives into Arendt's inquiries into the nature of thinking, how it relates to reality, and its appearance in the world. Key topics include the e…

In this episode, the discussion centers around Sections 4-5 of the first chapter of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. The conversation delves into Arendt's exploration of thinking, willing, and judging, and their impact on understanding justice, reason, and responsibility. Roger Berkowitz highlights the distinction between the soul and the mind…

In this episode, we close read Chapter 1 of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind, examining the concept of Appearance. Our discussion touches upon Arendt's departure from traditional philosophical disdain for appearances and their importance, and the inherent relationship between appearance and reality. Roger Berkowitz highlights Arendt's critique …

This episode inaugurates a new book! Now we're reading Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind. Arendt's book, published posthumously in 1978 and, now, the new Critical Edition, delves into the nature of thinking, willing, and judging. Roger Berkowitz outlines the book's unfinished state, Arendt's editorial history, and her intention to compare Englis…

In this bonus episode recorded in collaboration with Radio Kingston, we share a preview of our spring conference on Hannah Arendt and Black Revolutionary Thought, organized by Jess Feldman, where Neil Roberts will give the 3rd annual DeGruyter-Arendt Center keynote lecture on March 27th at Bard College. The lecture is open to the public, and global…

In our final chapter reading of Between Past and Future, we tackle Chapter 8. Roger Berkowitz discusses Arendt's essay 'The Conquest of Space and the Stature of Man,' which addresses how scientific advancements impact human dignity and the nature of being human. Berkowitz elaborates on Arendt's view that science, while expanding human capabilities,…

In this bonus episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz, we feature a talk by Sebastian Junger, a keynote speaker at the Arendt Center's fall 2024 conference on Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism. Junger, author of Tribe, discusses the complexities of tribalism, its positive and negative facets, and its relevance to contemporary society. He …

In this episode, we close read the final parts of Hannah Arendt's essay "Truth and Politics" from her book Between Past and Future. Roger Berkowitz emphasizes the complex relationship between truth and politics in the context of Arendt's view that politics is inherently deceitful and power-driven, making it often adverse to truth. The episode explo…

We're back from winter break and back to our chapter readings of Hannah Arendt's seminal text, Between Past and Future. In this episode, we delve into Chapter 7, Truth and Politics. Roger Berkowitz discusses Arendt's arguments about how truth is often impotent in the political sphere, yet essential to maintaining a human world. We unpack the comple…

This bonus episode features an in-depth conversation with Nick Romeo, a longtime New Yorker magazine contributor and author. Nick Romeo is the author of The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy, and he teaches at UC Berkeley's graduate school journalism. The discussion centers around Romeo's recent article, What Could Citizens' Assemblies Do fo…

This week we're sharing a recording from our friends at the Roundtable by the 92nd Street Y, New York, a world-class destination for online courses on literature, the arts, history, and much more, brought to you by some of the greatest minds of our time. In his lecture from October 22nd, Roger Berkowitz discusses his recent book On Civil Disobedien…

In this bonus episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz, we feature a talk from the Arendt Center's fall 2024 conference on Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism. Uday Mehta discusses the contrasting concepts of tribalism and cosmopolitanism, exploring how they shape identity, governance, and interpersonal relationships. He emphasizes the roote…

In this bonus episode of Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz, we share a talk from the Arendt Center's fall 2024 conference on Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism. Moderated by Roger Berkowitz, the conversation features Ayishat Akanbi, a fashion stylist and writer, and Thomas Chatterton Williams, an author and academic. The discussion delves into …

Part 2 of the conversation between Director of Academic Programs Jana Mader and Founder and Academic Director Roger Berkowitz, as they reflect on 2024 at the Hannah Arendt Center. In this bonus episode, they explore the evolving landscape of democracy, the rise of chaos and political violence in the US, and the potential of citizen assemblies to br…

In this bonus episode, Director of Academic Programs Jana Mader and Founder and Academic Director Roger Berkowitz take a moment time to reflect on 2024 at the Hannah Arendt Center. They discuss the impact of the Virtual Reading Group's intellectual, global community and discussions. They share take-aways from our October conference on Tribalism and…

In this episode, we discuss the second part of "The Crisis in Culture: Its Social and Political Significance" from Hannah Arendt's Between Past and Future, examining the social and political significance of culture and the role of judgment in a political community. ABOUT: Produced by the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College, this podcast offers clo…

This week we're sharing an episode from our friends at The Bulletin - Christianity Today's roundtable podcast, which dives into current events and breaking news, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. Roger Berkowitz was invited to speak with Mike Cosper the day after the 2024 US presidential election about the ris…

In this bonus episode, Roger Berkowitz discusses the relevance of Hannah Arendt's ideas on gratitude and the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in the context of modern societal challenges. If you like this episode and our podcast in general, please leave us a comment on your favorite podcast platform! We appreciate your support! ABOU…

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…

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 o…

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. AB…

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 misund…

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 of…

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…

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 Ar…

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 over…

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…

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 h…

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: Pr…

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 us…

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 a…

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 …