The Meaning Of Revolution By Hannah Arendt Summary

Hannah Arendt’s chapter titled â€Å"The Meaning of Revolution† is used as a means to describe the origins and basis of modern revolution and how the social question impacted its meaning into modern times. She first addresses existing revolutions as ones that attempt to overthrow a tyrannical power such as a king or a Machiavellian prince who refuses to distribute wealth amongst his people. Thus, she finds that people in pre-modern times revolted against authority because of their lack of wealth. It is here that Arendt makes the distinction between revolutions by citing America as the first nation to address the â€Å"social question† in that they felt strongly that poverty was not a natural human condition. This in turn prompted American society to†¦show more content†¦On the contrary, Arendt continues her study on modern revolution by affirming that modern revolution has used both freedom and liberation as a means to describe it where the meanings of t he two ideas can become rather ambiguous. However, the governing principles of revolution are used in a way that instills people with a sense of freedom and the willingness to establish something new. These feelings as discussed above are the driving forces of revolution according to Arendt. The third section of Arendt’s study on revolution describes the political genius of Machiavelli and the efforts he made to describe the basis of all revolution. Arendt describes how the word revolution was absent from the medieval world. It is here the Machiavelli first describes the means to overthrow rulers without the inclusion of Christian teachings. He accomplishes this by describing how political figures must learn to be not good in order to create an enduring reign as seen in The Prince. He also enforces the need for violence in politics as the direct consequence of â€Å"the twofold perplexity† which consists of a new beginning and the new foundations of society. However di fficult it may have been to describe, Machiavelli sought to instill the morals and values of freedom that society once had before the oppressive reign of principalities. Arendt concludes her third section by claiming that the medieval world knew ofShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesNetworked Organizations 20 †¢ Helping Employees Balance Work–Life Conflicts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most Acts of Workplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women† 12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure