>>52962071The term "banality of evil" was coined by political theorist Hannah Arendt in her book "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil." Arendt used this phrase to describe her observations during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking Nazi official responsible for organizing and facilitating the Holocaust.
Arendt argued that Eichmann's actions and mindset were not driven by inherent malevolence or an extraordinary level of evil, but rather by a thoughtless adherence to bureaucracy, obedience to authority, and an inability to think critically about the consequences of his actions. She suggested that evil acts can often be perpetuated by ordinary individuals who simply conform to the prevailing social and political systems without fully considering the moral implications of their actions.
The "banality of evil" thus refers to the idea that extreme acts of evil can be carried out by individuals who appear ordinary, lacking any exceptional malevolence, but who participate in horrific actions due to a lack of moral judgment, thoughtlessness, and a willingness to conform to the prevailing system.
