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In this episode of American Socrates, we dig into Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and her famous idea of the “banality of evil.” Arendt argued that great wrongs can be carried out not just by monsters, but by ordinary people who fail to think critically about their actions. What does this mean for the rest of us—especially in today’s political climate?

From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America, this episode asks: What is our responsibility when our leaders do wrong? Can clear thinking really protect us from going along with injustice? And how do we stay human when the system tells us not to ask questions?

Whether you're new to political philosophy or just trying to make sense of the world, this one's for you.

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Explore the Brain in a Vat thought experiment.

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We’ve all been told that grades are how we measure success and learning in school. But what if that’s a lie we’ve all just accepted? In this episode, we take a hard look at the role of grades in education—not just how they work, but who they really serve.

Grades are often treated like neutral indicators of learning, but they shape the way students think, what teachers prioritize, and how schools define success. They create pressure, foster competition, and punish mistakes, even though mistakes are how we learn. They claim to reward merit, but often just reflect privilege.

So who are grades really for? Students? Teachers? Employers? Or are they part of a system that values sorting above individual growth?

If you’ve ever felt like grades don’t tell the whole story—this episode is for you.

Hit play and join the conversation that could change how you see school forever.

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