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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... lives in the name of a higher good . While democ- racy eventually won the struggle against totalitarianism in much of the world , democracy itself is not im- mune to the pitfall of do - goodery : moral correctness at home and atomic or ...
... lives for an ideal in order to bring about the reign of good . We tend to forget that ( as the Enlightenment philosophers put it ) passions often take precedence over self- interest . As for the sympathizers , of whom there are huge ...
... lives of others . Nor does the damage caused respectively by the terrorists and totalitarianism belong to the same scale of magnitude : thousands lost their lives at the World Trade Center , but tens of millions were killed by ...
... live at home or in exile , wish for foreign military intervention to rid them of their hated leaders . But should their wish be granted ? Were they to come to power tomorrow , would they allow their country's destiny to be decided ...
... lives . My personal history and my professional back- ground have influenced my overall approach . I was born in Bul- garia and lived there until 1963 , under a Communist regime ; and since then I have lived in France . Professionally ...
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 |