Vessels of Evil: American Slavery and the Holocaust

by Laurence Mordekhai Thomas

Book Overview

Two profound atrocities in the history of Western culture form the subject of this moving philosophical exploration: American Slavery and the Holocaust. An African American and a Jew, Laurence... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566391008
• ISBN13: 9781566391009
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Length: 211 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Profound and illuminating discourse on how ordinary people come to do evil

Vessels of Evil examines how ordinary people come to do evil. The book uses two enormous and well-documented cases in point-- American slavery and the Holocaust. (A few clueless individuals have objected to "comparisons" between the two cases. Had they actually read the book, they would appreciate the author's clear and extensive disclaimer that these are two outstanding cases in which many ordinary people came to do evil, and that no other similarity between the two cases is expressed or implied. One can only role one's eyes and shrug upon reading such misguided reviews.) Prof. Thomas's writing is lucid and graceful, and I found his reasoning and conclusions generally compelling. It is a short book, but (as my son remarked on his first experience with a serious work of philosophy) "you have to read every word." It does not reward skimming.

Wonderful resource in the discussion of obligation & society

Vessels of Evil requires the reader to fully develop and rationalize the concepts of obligation and duty as they relate to societal interaction. The book transcends the traditional struggle between right and wrong in society to focus attention on the real debate - what is expected of an individual vs. what would be considered merely "a nice thing for one to do." The result is a resource for formulating concise, detailed, and analytical justifications for one's views.