Hannah Arendt是當代最具影響力的一位政治哲學家，她著作等身，關懷許多議題。這篇文章集中於她對「惡」的看法，具體來說，討論下列三個問題：一、Hannah Arendt採訪Eichmann在以色列法庭受審判經過的報導及其所引起的爭論；二、Hannah Arendt如何逐步放棄根本惡（radical evil）的概念，而提出「平庸的惡」（banality of evil）的看法？三、初步探討banality of evil的普遍性，引述台灣與南非的兩個案例作為說明。這篇文章並非針對Hannah Arendt政治思想整體的研究。

This paper is primarily concerned with the controversy over the concept of “banality of evil” provoked by Hannah Arendt’s report from Jerlusalem on Eichmann’s trial. It will briefly describe Eichmann the man, the background to his trial and Arendt’s first impression of him. Then it will take up the criticisms of Arendt’s position and her explanation why she came to think of Eichmann and judge him as she did and how did she give up her commitment to the concept of “radical evil”. To support Arendt in her arguments, brief descriptions of torture and murder and their perpetrators from two different situations are cited. Finally, the paper will end with a brief reference to Arendt as a pariah. Never is this paper intended as a comprehensive study of Adrent’s political philosophy, which is obviously a different project.