Johanna Bach: Empörungsbereitschaft und -abwehr nach dem 7. Oktober

In the organizer's words:

Lecture as part of our series in memory of the genocidal massacre by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

It is now widely recognized in research that the functioning and scope of anti-Semitism cannot be understood if one limits one's analysis to the cognitive structures of prejudice alone. It is pointed out that, following Sartre's talk of anti-Semitism as a "world view and passion", its emotional side must also be taken into account.

In this context, the role of so-called "moral feelings" has been little researched to date. In addition to guilt and resentment, these also include the feeling of outrage, which is defined as a vicarious feeling in moral philosophy. After the Shoah, Hannah Arendt, Primo Levi and Jean Amery, among others, impressively describe what it means for victims of crime if their fellow human beings are not outraged by what has been done to them. And even after the anti-Semitic massacres by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Jews complained of widespread emotional apathy.

At the same time, an enormous and almost intuitive outrage can be observed after October 7 - especially in left-wing circles - in view of the Israeli reaction to the Hamas attack. However, this is not always about genuine and necessary solidarity with the Palestinian civilian population. Instead, anti-Semitism has always served as an identity-forming, collective outrage offering that promises moral and emotional unambiguity. This simultaneity of refusal to be outraged and willingness to be outraged, which anti-Semitism provokes, also needs to be analyzed in light of current developments.

Johanna Bach studied sociology and philosophy in Frankfurt am Main and is doing her doctorate on the emotional world of anti-Semitism at the University of Passau. She is co-editor of the source book Vermeintliche Gründe. Ethik und Ethiken im Nationalsozialismus and the Studienbuch Soziale Arbeit und Rechtsextremismus as well as author of numerous academic articles.

Before the lecture, the exhibition 6:56 (link)will be open from 4 to 7:30 pm .

Free admission. The lecture and exhibition are not suitable for children. The room is dedicated to remembering - we do not accept disturbances and have prepared a corresponding protection concept.

An event organized by Makroscope e.V. in cooperation with the Partnership for Democracy Mülheim an der Ruhr. Supported as part of the federal program "Demokratie Leben!" and with funds from the Commissioner of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for Combating Anti-Semitism, Jewish Life and Culture of Remembrance.