Amor Mundi

The weekly newsletter of the Hannah Arendt Center

What is most difficult, writes Arendt, is to love the world as it is. Loving the world means neither uncritical acceptance nor contemptuous rejection, but the unwavering facing up to and comprehension of that which is. The opinions expressed in essays on our site are those of their authors.

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About

Amor Mundi (for love of the world) is an exploration of Arendtian topics delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. This includes deep dives into the works of Hannah Arendt and the implications of her ideas on the world today. We feature varied, nuanced, and often opposing viewpoints in this non-partisan publication, and brave and provocative ideas that will help you (re)discover the joy of deep thinking and caring about the world.

When you subscribe to the newsletter, you'll also receive first-hand updates on what we’re doing at HAC (conferences, events, workshops, etc.), an Arendt Quote of the Week with in-depth analysis from Arendt scholars from around the world, and highlights of the work being done on campus by our Student Fellows. Be among the first to know about special offers from our partners and upcoming events!

We've been publishing weekly essays here on our website since 2010, and are now transitioning to the publication platform Medium. You can still read for free with links from our email each Sunday! But now you can highlight sections and comment, too!

Browse our Library of Amor Essays on Medium

A note to new Medium users: if you see an offer pop-up, just simply X out to close and continue reading. You can also Follow HAC on Medium and Subscribe to our publications, to receive additional notifications so you don't miss an essay.

The Radical Politics of Joy

"Is Joy really what Arendt wants us to be talking about, amidst the most racist, cruel, and criminal American administration since the Civil Rights era?" So asked one of my favorite former students, protesting the theme of this year's Hannah Arendt Center Conference: JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times.

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Civil Disobedience and the Spirit of American Democracy

Hannah Arendt wrote that, “Dissent implies consent, and is the hallmark of free government.” We are at a moment when dissent is required if we are to preserve our freedoms.

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Temptations of Tyranny

“If this isn’t tyranny, what is?” So asks Rod Dreher, one of President Trump’s most steadfast intellectual supporters, now increasingly alarmed by the President’s abuses of power.

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An Open Letter To My Friends Who Signed “Philosophy for Palestine”

These are dark times as multiple crises are erupting around the world while talk of a global conflagration is heard in many circles. These are also times that try human relationships, friendships, and alliances.

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Temptations of Tyranny

Rod Dreher’s conflicted support for President Trump illustrates a broader crisis among intellectual conservatives who fear the "soft totalitarianism" of liberal institutions yet embrace the hard authoritarianism of executive overreach. Drawing on Hannah Arendt’s political thought, the essay contends that true freedom is preserved not through charismatic leaders but through the multiplication and decentralization of citizen power. Revitalizing democracy, it argues, requires stubborn, local acts of collective governance rather than the dangerous temptation to concentrate authority in a single figure.

04-27-2025

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Hannah Arendt Library: Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling

In this week's Library feature, we appreciate Hannah Arendt's collection of the works of German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling.

03-06-2015

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Howard Zinn on Thinking

American historian, author, playwright, and social activist Howard Zinn provides this week's Thoughts on Thinking.

03-04-2015

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Amor Mundi 3/1/15

In this week's Amor Mundi, we wonder whether humans will eventually be replaced by more efficient machines, appeal to Karl Ove Knausgaard in our attempts to understand a uniquely American form of poverty, appreciate Peter Railton's efforts to open up a broader discussion on depression, and much more.

03-02-2015

Post, Quote of the Week

Arendt and Transformation

Thomas Wild discusses how the transformation of thinking and acting into works of art permeates Arendt's understanding of the world conceived by humankind.

03-02-2015

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Hannah Arendt Library: St. Augustine

We appreciate Arendt's engagement with Saint Augustine's "Confessions."

02-27-2015

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The American Jewish Peace Archive

We recognize Aliza Becker, one of her Associate Fellows, and her creation of the American Jewish Peace Archive: An Oral History of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Activists (AJPA).

02-26-2015

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Eric Hoffer on Thinking

American moral and social philosopher Eric Hoffer provides this week's Thoughts on Thinking.

02-25-2015

Post, Quote of the Week

Hannah Arendt and the Political Dangers of Emotion

Johannes Lang explores the moral and political consequences of emotion entering into the public sphere.

02-23-2015

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Amor Mundi 2/22/15

In this week's Amor Mundi, we recognize the enduring legacy of the American Revolution in American politics and rhetoric, expose the under-reported dangers of becoming a whistleblower, identify the universality all writers aspire to achieve, and much more.

02-23-2015