Hope and Memory: Lessons from the Twentieth CenturyPrinceton University Press, 2003 - 337 pagini Both a political history and a moral critique of the twentieth century, this is a personal and impassioned book from one of Europe's most outstanding intellectuals. Identifying totalitarianism as the major innovation of the twentieth century, Tzvetan Todorov examines the struggle between this system and democracy and its effects on human life and consciousness. Totalitarianism managed to impose itself because, more than any other political system, it played on people's need for the absolute: it fed their hope to endow life with meaning by taking part in the construction of a paradise on earth. As a result, millions of people lost their lives in the name of a higher good. While democracy eventually won the struggle against totalitarianism in much of the world, democracy itself is not immune to the pitfall of do-goodery: moral correctness at home and atomic or "humanitarian" bombs abroad. Todorov explores the history of the past century not only by analyzing its spectacular political conflicts but also by offering moving profiles of several individuals who, at great personal cost, resisted the strictures of the communist and Nazi regimes. Some--Margarete Buber-Neumann, David Rousset, Primo Levi, and Germaine Tillion--were deported to concentration camps. Others--Vasily Grossman and Romain Gary--fought courageously in World War II. All became exemplary witnesses who described with great lucidity and humanity what they had endured. This book preserves the memory of the past as we move into the twenty-first century--arguing eloquently that we must place the past at the service of a just future. |
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... political conflicts but also by offering moving profiles of several individuals who , at great personal cost , resisted the strictures of the Communist ( continued on back flap ) Hope and Memory LESSONS FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY By ...
... individuals and small groups . In the past , only a state- and a powerful one at that could have organized such a complex action ; 9/11 was the work of a few dozen people ... individual power , however , is. X PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION.
Lessons from the Twentieth Century Tzvetan Todorov. Even this rise of individual power , however , is not entirely ... individuals or groups with no political legitimacy whatsoever can choose to keep their capital where it is or transfer ...
... individual freedom is repressed . To my mind , however , the differences are far more significant than the ... individuals and the willingness to sacrifice oneself , earlier you had the actions of all - powerful states and the ...
... individuals or groups who have no legitimate mandate to use violence . The members of the police or the mili- tary , whatever massacres or murders they might commit , can never become terrorists because they are the " legitimate " users ...
Alte ediții - Afișează-le pe toate
Hope and Memory: Lessons from the Twentieth Century Tzvetan Todorov,Cvetan Todorov Previzualizare limitată - 2016 |
Hope and Memory: Lessons from the Twentieth Century Tzvetan Todorov Nu există previzualizare disponibilă - 2003 |
Hope and Memory: Reflections on the Twentieth Century Tzvetan Todorov Nu există previzualizare disponibilă - 2005 |
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Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe James J. Sheehan Nu există previzualizare disponibilă - 2008 |