The Human Condition: Message Lost in the Capitalist Machine :: Hannah Arendt Human Condition Essays

The Human Condition Message Lost in the Capitalist motorcar   In The Human Condition, by Hannah Arendt, the fundamental qualities of benignant behavior atomic number 18 described and analyzed. These qualities are first described by discussing the different entities amaze in the lives of Athenian Hellenics. This partition of human intent into separate units is vatical to be applied to modern American society as well, however, the bodily structure of todays social order differs from that of ancient Greek. These disparities cause the analysis and ideas projected on the human condition to be contrasting as well.   Arendt refers to the three elements of the human condition as vita activa labor, work, and action at law, which correspond to the reason which humans have been minded(p) life. According to Arendt, labor is the biologic functions which define life itself, work is the colored function of human existence and so defined as worldliness, and action is exercise that goes on between man and matter and leads to the permanence of a particular humans existence. These divisions are important in viewing the human life as a whole, seeing how Arendt divides it into two realms the private and public. The private realm is where work is executed and labor is present, and a hierarchical family is the basis of activity with the male at the top. Since work and labor are when humans are at their about natural state and in touch with their biological functions, this is the simplest sphere of life. The public realm, which only exists for the dominant figure in the family, is most closely related with action and is where man gains a sense of emancipation. This freedom comes from the fact that when humans meet in public, they discuss ideas and exchange views. by this exchange, thoughts are developed free from the constraints of private life and primordial necessities. In this respect, freedom in the ancient Greek world was defined as the ability to conte mplate thoughts and discuss socially. This is where the morals and ideals of society are create and a common good is derived which creates a social standard.   These social standards and their methods of tuition were valid during the days of ancient Greece, but are not contemporary with modern American society. The society of modern America, which coincides closely with the society of the easement of Western Civilization, cannot be analyzed on the same levels that Arendt evaluates ancient Greek culture in respect to her proposed human conditions.