1. Arendt reminds us that Hitler practiced "The Big Lie," which was predicated on the belief that for a lie to work, it had to be enormous--so big that huge numbers of people would believe it, even if it went against common sense. Arendt also notes that spreading vast lies has become a common principle of modern political science. What evidence do you find to support Arendt's claims about the big lie, based on examples you can identify in recent political statements?
2. What is the importance of the concentration camps' goal of removing human spontaneity? Why is the concentration camp "useful" to the totalitarian government?
3. In a post of at least 500 words, respond to either of the prompts below. As usual, your response should address specific points in Arendt's essay.