ABSTRACT
German-born Hannah Arendt, the author of The Human Condition, was one of the most influential political thinkers of the twentieth century. She studied philosophy with important figures such as Martin Heidegger, the author of the renowned work Being and Time, and Karl Jaspers, the influential author of Philosophy. Arendt published books and essays on topics such as revolution, political action, freedom, power, and authority. Providing the theoretical foundation for her overall approach to political life, The Human Condition remains the most important of her works—but not just in terms of understanding Arendt. Arendt emphasized the political element of human life even more than the thinking part. Arendt also created the idea of natality, the idea that politics always centers on giving birth to new institutions and ideas. Arendt's emphasis on plurality and respect for others helps the work move past simple liberal platitudes about accepting others, and toward a more active approach to shaping politics.
