Significance Of The Human Condition By Hannah Arendt
The existence of the concept of the human condition implies a certain significance and uniqueness to our existence as humans; however, the absolute essence of what the human condition is or consists of can and has been interpreted in many ways. One of many philosophers who tried to define this concept was Hannah Arendt in her novel The Human Condition. Arendt believes that the three basic conditions under which humans live are labor, work, and action which she characterizes by the term vita activa. Labor refers to the biological processes of the body and corresponds to the human condition of actual life. Work correlates with the aberrance of human existence and is characterized by the human condition of “worldliness.” Lastly, action is the
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Arendt’s rejection of individualism simply meant that she believed all men lived together rather than as a bunch of individuals, but did not deny the importance of uniqueness between individuals throughout society. The importance of the private realm led to the concept of property. Property guarantees privacy and allows a man to become unique and to avoid the conformity expected by the public realm. Privacy ensures uniqueness as well as plurality in the public realm. Although Locke also believed men had a right to property, he did not see its significance related to the idea of privacy. He viewed property as something appropriated through labor and believed that one may take only as much as he can use before it goes bad and that he must leave enough for others. While Arendt believed property protected people from society, Locke claimed that men often entered a political society as a way to protect their property. Arendt and Locke expressed similar concepts relating to the human condition such as freedom, property, and labor, but interpreted them in varying ways. While Arendt believes the human condition is simply determined by men’s surroundings which conditions them, Locke states that the human condition consists of a state of nature which can only be altered by a man’s consent to join a political
Arendt’s rejection of individualism simply meant that she believed all men lived together rather than as a bunch of individuals, but did not deny the importance of uniqueness between individuals throughout society. The importance of the private realm led to the concept of property. Property guarantees privacy and allows a man to become unique and to avoid the conformity expected by the public realm. Privacy ensures uniqueness as well as plurality in the public realm. Although Locke also believed men had a right to property, he did not see its significance related to the idea of privacy. He viewed property as something appropriated through labor and believed that one may take only as much as he can use before it goes bad and that he must leave enough for others. While Arendt believed property protected people from society, Locke claimed that men often entered a political society as a way to protect their property. Arendt and Locke expressed similar concepts relating to the human condition such as freedom, property, and labor, but interpreted them in varying ways. While Arendt believes the human condition is simply determined by men’s surroundings which conditions them, Locke states that the human condition consists of a state of nature which can only be altered by a man’s consent to join a political