Dear Leader: Authoritarianism & Cults in Literature

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture on authoritarianism and cults in literature, including terms related to empathy, ideologies, and important philosophical concepts.

Empathy

The capacity to understand, feel, and/or experience the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of another person from their perspective.

Authoritarianism

The phenomenon that describes how people under certain conditions desire extreme policies and strongman leaders to implement them.

Absolutionist ideology

A belief system that provides a clear sense of right and wrong, dividing the world into good and evil.

Cult

A group or organization often described as strange, outside the norm, or scary, with connotations varying between negative and niche communities.

Juche

The state ideology of North Korea emphasizing self-reliance, loyalty to the leader, and political independence.

Existentialism

A philosophical movement asserting that existence precedes essence and that individuals create their own meaning and values.

The Banality of Evil

A concept introduced by Hannah Arendt to describe how ordinary people can commit atrocious acts without deep ideological motives.

Credulity

A tendency to readily believe in something as real or true despite a lack of evidence.

New Religious Movements (NRMs)

Spiritual groups established in modern times, often viewed as cults, that arise during periods of existential questioning.

Existential Hero

A character who grapples with the inherent meaninglessness of the world and struggles to find significance in their choices.

Protestant Work Ethic

We live to work