A Philosophical Insight into Hannah Arendt's Concept of Human Plurality in Politics

Abstract

This paper examines Arendt`s search for an enabling ground for political action in society through her ideology of human plurality. Unrestricted political participation is crucial to the development of the political structures that are embedded in society. Arendt developed most of her ideas in response to the horrors of political evil and the rise of totalitarianism in the twentieth century. Totalitarianism had its greatest evil in that it removed all the space in which individuals in a community or plurality with others were possible. It removes from us the ability for political action and in essence the ability to speak and act in concert with others. Plurality constitutes the kpim of political life. She calls it the essence of our existence. This is because the world is made up of a plurality of distinct individuals who are constantly engaging with the world. Arendt`s ideology of politics is based on the inter-subjective nature of political interaction. It exists when free and unique individuals come together to interact through speech and action.