In the opening Spotlight session, Dr. Beck calls us to be curious and thoughtful about the world around us rather than slipping into the lazy mindlessness that is so often our default setting. He presents several key questions that emerge throughout his discussion.
These questions are:
- What does “Banality of Evil” refer to?
- What is the source of Eichmann’s and other forms of evil in the world?
- What are intellectual virtues?
- How can intellectual virtues such as curiosity, humility, and attention combat mindless evil in the world?
http://vimeo.com/97721634
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Spotlight Resources
Adolf Eichmann: The Banality of Evil
Biography
Dr. Richard Beck is a professor of psychology, a researcher in the psychology of religion, and a blogger whose wide-ranging interests include Orthodox Iconography and the Theology of Calvin and Hobbes.
One response to “A Call to Mindfulness”
Evil refers to whatever holds you down as an individual. I strongly feel that all humans have their own forms of evil and it comes in many shapes and sizes. Depending on situations and circumstances, everyone has different problems and evils in their lives. The source of the forms of evil in the world I feel all comes from within the person. He or she has the ability to make choices and that person chooses to be or act in an evil manner. Intellectual virtues can combat evil in the world because often times, evil acts or people are intelligent. If people throughout society would use their brains and knowledge for good instead of evil, the world would be a much better place.