1st Edition

The Hidden Philosophy of Hannah Arendt

By Margaret Betz Hull Copyright 2002

    The central argument of this book is that Hannah Arendt's deserved place in the history of Western philosophy has been overlooked, and recognition of her contribution is long overdue. In part a result of Arendt's own insistence on calling herself a 'political thinker' throughout her career, this is also due to a common tendency in philosophy to denigrate the political. This book explores the indisputable philosophical dimensions of her work. In particular, it examines Arendt's theoretical commitment to recognizing humanity as a plurality, which avoids the common mistake in Western philosophy of theoretically overemphasizing the self in isolation. Arendt's own personal dealings with aspects of her identity, namely her Jewishness and her womanhood, work to inform us of this position against solipsism.

    Preface  Acknowledgements  Introduction  1. Political Action and "The Old Suspicions of Philosophers'  2. Arendt's Philosophy: The Primacy of Plurality and Interaction  3. Professional Philiosophy Versus Philosophy as Philanthropia: Arendt's Influences  4. The Arendtian Person: Hannah Arendt as Jew, Hannah Arendt as Woman  Notes  Bibliography  Index

    Biography

    Margaret Betz Hull received a PhD in Philosophy from Temple University, Pennsylvania. Her areas of interest and work include political philosophy, Continental philosophy, feminist theory, and the ethical treatment of animals.