Idealism
Sacrifice
In her book on Eichmann “Eichmann in Jerusalem” Hannah Arendt makes a poignant remark about Eichmann’s idealism: “The reason he became so fascinated by the ‘Jewish question’ he explained, was his own ‘idealism’; these Jews, unlike the Assimilationists, whom he always despised, and unlike Orthodox Jews, who bored him, were ‘idealists’ like him. An ‘idealist’ according to Eichmann’s notions, was not merely a man who believed in an ‘idea’ or someone who did not steal or accept bribes, though these qualifications were indispensable. An ‘idealist’ was a man who lived for his idea – hence he could not be a businessman – and who was prepared to sacrifice for his idea everything and, especially, everybody.” Anybody nowadays who declares to be an idealist or who feels attracted to the idea of idealism – which is very understandable – should remember Eichmann’s words.
I think the basic trick for the idealist is never to call it THEIR idea, but to call it a scientifically true, an historical necessity, the will of God and so on.
One small example: when I accepted a small tip, my colleague once blamed me for ‘an act of pure selfishness’, when he took a bigger tip, he explained it as ‘a modest gift for his family, without any smell of selfishness’.
Arnon
Your argument is a little bit too Godwin for me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_lawJoep
You have certainly a point, and although I was not aware of Godwin’s law, I wholeheartedly sympathize with this law.Nevertheless my argument was not a metaphor, and I didn’t equate all idealism with Eichmann or Nazism for that matter. I thought that this passage is just a good example why there are a valid reasons to be (highly) suspicious of all kinds of idealism, especially of the self-declared idealists. And why the moral obligation to be an idealist at the end is often an empty vessel.
Also there is in Eichmann’s declaration about idealism something very understandable, something humane almost.
Jan T
What do you mean with tip? Who is tipping you and for what exactly?Monica
Did Mulisch have the same observation? I cannot remember.We sometimes helped mostly the poor or near illiterate people with their paperwork. This was not part of the job but nevertheless, and sometimes people gave a small or bigger tip out a gratitude, although accepting tips was officially forbidden, but helping people with paperwork was also officially forbidden.
Jan T
Thank you. I would have left you a good tip as well. I love to leave good tips.Richard
Not yet. Any connection with the above?Arnon/ Richard
I just read Provocations by John Gray (thanks JT). Its totally in the line of the above. In fact, I believe his main argument is that mans idealism and love for progress is the main cause of the suffering in this world. He is totally in favor of destroying illusions.In his new book Gray says that the so called neocons are trying to create a world according to western ideas or ideals. He thinks the western system doesn' t fit everywhere and that there is no system that works everywhere.
