<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the article, the author analyses the impact of the tragic experiences during the Holocaust on contemporary ethics and literature. Such considerations coincide with yet another anniversary – the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, celebrated globally as Holocaust Memorial Day. The article also considers the reasons why testimonies from Holocaust survivors have not had an adequate impact on society. The author argues that trivialisation of the Holocaust tragedy occurred in modern science and it is related to the fact that traditional ethics has not been able to convincingly explain why the Holocaust occurred in the most civilised nations. Thus, Holocaust testimonies should be constantly popularised in society for the good of all mankind. Literature seems to be the best form of mass media for this task and it is also a recorder of human emotions. According to the author, it is essential that humanity is protected this way against the possibility of a similar tragedy occurring in the future.</p></abstract>

In the article, the author analyses the impact of the tragic experiences during the Holocaust on contemporary ethics and literature. Such considerations coincide with yet another anniversary – the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, celebrated globally as Holocaust Memorial Day. The article also considers the reasons why testimonies from Holocaust survivors have not had an adequate impact on society. The author argues that trivialisation of the Holocaust tragedy occurred in modern science and it is related to the fact that traditional ethics has not been able to convincingly explain why the Holocaust occurred in the most civilised nations. Thus, Holocaust testimonies should be constantly popularised in society for the good of all mankind. Literature seems to be the best form of mass media for this task and it is also a recorder of human emotions. According to the author, it is essential that humanity is protected this way against the possibility of a similar tragedy occurring in the future.

On the testimony of the Holocaust in literature and ethics

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"On the testimony of the Holocaust in literature and ethics"}

In the article, the author analyses the impact of the tragic experiences during the Holocaust on contemporary ethics and literature. Such considerations...

On the testimony of the Holocaust in literature and ethics

Published Online: Dec 11, 2019

Page range: 181 - 189

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2019-0022

Keywords
Holocaust, ethics, literature, Itzhak Katzenelson, Holocaust Memorial Day

© 2019 Stefan Konstańczak, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

On the testimony of the Holocaust in literature and ethics

Published Online: Dec 11, 2019

Page range: 181 - 189

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2019-0022

KeywordsHolocaust, ethics, literature, Itzhak Katzenelson, Holocaust Memorial Day

© 2019 Stefan Konstańczak, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Holocaust, ethics, literature, Itzhak Katzenelson, Holocaust Memorial Day