I would have said that Eichmann was profoundly, egregiously stupid, and for me stupidity is not the same as having a low IQ. Here I rather agree with Kant, that stupidity is caused, not by brain failure, but by a wicked heart. Insensitiveness, opacity, inability to make connections, ofter accompanied by low "animal" cunning. One cannot help feeling that this mental oblivion is , by the heart or the moral will--an active preference, and that explains why one is so irritated by stupidity, which is not the case when one is dealing with a truly backward individual.
Mary McCarthy reflects on the nature of stupidity through the character of Eichmann, suggesting that his actions stem not from a lack of intelligence but from a deeper moral failing. She aligns her thoughts with Kant, asserting that true stupidity arises from a "wicked heart" rather than mere cognitive deficiency. This perspective indicates that insensitivity and a lack of understanding are active choices rather than accidental traits.
McCarthy highlights that this form of mental oblivion is aggravating because it signals a refusal to engage with moral and ethical responsibilities. Unlike individuals who are simply lacking in intelligence, those like Eichmann exhibit a troubling willfulness that makes their ignorance more disturbing and less forgivable, ultimately influencing how society perceives and reacts to their actions.
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Other quotes in Between Friends: The Correspondence of Hannah Arendt and Mary McCarthy, 1949-1975
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