President Leon Botstein Interviewed About Hannah Arendt for PBS

Bard President Leon Botstein was interviewed for PBS about philosopher Hannah Arendt, whom he first met as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago and stayed in contact with throughout her life. “I was fascinated by the originality of her insights, the improvisational brilliance of her mind, and the distinctive quality of her language, all of which reflected her uncommon capacity to contextualize texts and events brilliantly,” said Botstein. He discusses studying as a student with Arendt, how he interprets her ideas such as the concept of the banality of evil, and how his understanding of her has evolved over time. “Over the years I have come to appreciate how provocative her work is, even though I do not always find myself in agreement with it.”

Post Date: 07-22-2025