The Holocaust did not introduce the phenomenon of the bystander; but it did illustrate the terrible consequences of indifference and passivity towards the persecution of others. Although the term was initially applied only to the good Germans―the apathetic citizens who made genocide possible through unquestioning obedience to evil leaders―recent Holocaust scholarship has shown that it applies to most of the world; including parts of the population in Nazi-occupied countries; some sectors within the international Christian and Jewish communities; and the Allied governments themselves. This work analyzes why this happened; drawing on the insights of historians; Holocaust survivors; and Christian and Jewish ethicists. The author argues that bystander behavior cannot be attributed to a single cause; such as anti-Semitism; but can only be understood within a complex framework of factors that shape human behavior individually; socially; and politically.
#2684786 in Books 2012-05-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .53 x 6.00l; .64 #File Name: 0271058374192 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great primer to ancient thinking on magicBy Geoffrey W. DennisA wonderful; sophisticated; insightful complex of essays on ancient magic; alchemy; and ritual; using linguistic theory. A gem by a scholar with great breathe of knowledge. Very worthwhile.