Lotophagomachia In Krytyka, No. 5 (127), 2008, pp. 13-14.

In his review, Ivan Homza analyzes Hannah Arendt's work The Origins of Totalitarianism, focusing on the specifics of the functioning and internal logic of totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. The reviewer outlines a new approach to understanding totalitarianism, which Arendt constructs by identifying the correlation between rational science and metaphysical doctrine, as well as by studying the mechanisms of “revealing the truth” through propaganda and terror. According to the author, these processes are the result of the deep mythologization of political power and its desire for comprehensive control over society.

Homza articulates the philosophical and ideological foundations of the totalitarian project, including the absolute subordination of the individual to an abstract idea, the arbitrary definition of the categories of “good” and “evil,” and the radicalization of the anthropological dimension of politics. The review emphasizes the methodological significance of Arendt's approach, which, thanks to a clear distinction between totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, allows for a deeper understanding of the contemporary risks associated with excessive concentration of power and centralized control.