Sun, 26 Jan 2003 15:40:11 GMT
I first visited the subject of terror when I read Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism, many years ago.
I'm revisiting her thinking now. It's complicated stuff, and somewhat dated; but it deals with verities I think we need to factor into our convesations about the War on Terrorism, whatever that is.
More later. Right now I need some sleep.
I think that 'dated' always refers to a persons grasp of their own history and their historical situatedness. Yes, Arendt does use certain historically situated examples, but I agree with Doc when he says that her theory is as applicable today as it was then. Other related and interesting reads are from the Frankfurt School, with books like 'The Authoritarian Personaity' and 'One Dimensional Man', etc.