Katy and I presented at a conference this weekend on our work on Arendt and the family. But we added a new twist to our deliberations, that of the peer group. According to Arendt, the peer group not only provides friendship but also political support. Our talk on the peer group was based on Arendt's essay on Rosa Luxemburg, which appears in Men and Dark Times. Luxemburg is one of only two woman who make an appearance in this book. The other woman profiled is the novelist, Isak Dinerson. … [Read more...]
A state of unwelcome
It was chilling to read about Texas Governor Greg Abbott's statement that Texas would not resettle refugees in 2020. In recent years, Texas has been the state to resettle the largest number of refugees. Echoes of Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism The Governor's decision reminds me of Hannah Arendt's discussion of the decline of the nation-state in the Origins of Totalitarianism. The phenomenon of statelessness tested the limits of national sovereignty. Some states stripped their unwanted … [Read more...]
On venturing forth
Recently, I experienced a case of the flu that left me feeling rather pathetic and alone. That aloneness was necessary, however, to enable me to rest and recuperate. Wrapped up in my blanket of solitude, I spent most of my time either sleeping or reading novels that have a tendency to pile up on my bedside table. These stories not only conjured up magical worlds, but also gave me comfort. Thankfully, the flu has now abated, and I’m cognizant of the first signs of winter, ten centimetres of the … [Read more...]
Home grounds belonging
Imagine the following scenarios: -You return to your parents’ home for the holidays, your family greets you with smiles and warm words. You enter your childhood room, ah, at home at last. -You’ve been swamped at work; projects, meetings, and emails consuming your time. You finally catch a break one Sunday afternoon and meet with a good friend. It feels so relieving, you feel like you’re home. -You’re somewhere new and foreign, you don’t know the language, you’re trying to get … [Read more...]
Home & Belonging: The Authors of “At Home with Arendt”
What does home mean? Is it related to a sense of belonging? What, if any, is the connection between the two? And who are we? Whose thoughts are you reading? This blog is written by 4 different scholars: Dr. Rita A. Gardiner, Dr. Katy Fulfer, Harshita Jaiprakash, and Janet Jones. We are a diverse group of scholars. Some of us are interested in bioethics, some in feminist theories, some in education, and some in drug addiction. But we are all intrigued by Hannah Arendt. During the past … [Read more...]