“On Humanity in Dark Times” is the first Belarusian-language collection of essays by renowned political thinker and philosopher Hannah Arendt.

The idea for this book began with a question asked by Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich to German Arendt scholar Marie Luise Knott during the International Literature Festival in Cologne in 2022.

“Can you tell me what Hannah Arendt thought about collective guilt? Does German guilt exist?” asked Alexievich. She was interested in Arendt’s concept of “organized guilt” — the idea that the Nazi regime turned ordinary Germans into co-authors of crimes or passive accomplices.

As there was no opportunity to fully discuss the topic during the event, Alexievich suggested compiling a Belarusian edition of Arendt’s essays for the publishing house “Pflaŭmbaŭm”. The result became the first book by Hannah Arendt ever published in Belarusian.

The essays were translated into Belarusian by Alena Piatrovič, Volha Hronskaja, Alena Talapila, and Kaciaryna Teves.

Blending philosophy, political reflection, and historical analysis, “On Humanity in Dark Times” explores responsibility, guilt, totalitarianism, and the fragile nature of human dignity in times of catastrophe.

Language: Belarusian
Cover: hardcover
Format: 130x200 mm
Number of pages: 288
Place of publication: Vilnius, Lithuania
Year of publication: 2025