Integrity in Dark Times: Hannah Arendt and Jane Addams

The 2016 election drove many of us back to reading Hannah Arendt, seeking to understand what type of thinking has caused so many to turn toward nationalism, opening to dangers of totalitarianism. Having experienced living in a near-fascist community in an isolated religious group for fifteen years, this essay brings my personal experiences to the questions of how we think about and create spaces for diverse yet shared realities to think and act in freedom. Pragmatists understand that we are always thinking in dialogue with others, and because of that, we are in epistemological danger when our dialogue partners are limited. What are our responsibilities in these times? I explore three elements of integrity in dark times: a) Radical honesty and critical questioning; b) Ethical necessities of staying aware and engaged in political issues; c) Sharing lived experiences through story-telling and listening as we develop inclusive thinking partners.