In this course, we have been challenged on our views of what ethics is and is not, and now, we are faced with the challenge of who human beings are. In this section, we are presented with two different philosophies: determinism and perfectionism. Determinism shows each person in a Darwinist light, saying that everyone is out to reproduce, fulfilling our own genetic dominance, and weeding out those who are not fit to inhabit this earth. Each of us has no free will, with only cause and effect explaining any natural phenomena, and there is no existing God. In perfectionism, God is the policeman, rewarding one if we are obedient, and punishing us for our missteps. Perfectionism is the view that human beings do have freedom, but that freedom can be taken away. Both of these philosophies are on polar sides of the spectrum, but they both leave us wanting in the full understanding of who humans are, with determinism unacknowledging a human being’s free will, leaving the diverse multitude of humans to be controlled by a set of equations and programs, while perfectionism is freedom we cannot see or claim, but we can lose it nonetheless. Reading the diaries of Etty Hillesum completely shatters both determinism and perfectionism, challenging both philosophies views of human happiness, God, freedom, community, and ethics, giving us a more complete view of who human beings are.
In the realistic view, the source of human happiness comes from within ourselves. To gain any sense of happiness, we must first find the inner peace that Hillesum gained and strove to maintain throughout her diaries. The realistic vision disbands all notions of human happiness depending on our internal instincts or external environment and living up to the moral rules given to us by society, with living a life of meaning and worth. But how do we measure that worth? According to Hillesum, that worth is measured by our own internal dignity and peace, despite a turbulent environment, with Hillesum writing, “It still comes down to the same thing: life is beautiful. And I believe in God. And I want to be there right in the thick of what people call ‘horror’ and still be able to say: life is beautiful” (226). Hillesum’s own internal happiness also comes from the continual growth of her inner self, with Hillesum writing, “I see no other solution, I really see no other solution than to turn inward and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we have first changed ourselves. And that seems to me the only lesson to be learned from this war. That we must look into ourselves and nowhere else” (84). Even though Hillesum is surrounded by a chaotic environment, she is able to turn inward to find inner peace with the help of God.
Unlike determinism and perfectionism, God is a being acting through us and who we see in ourselves and others. In the beginning of Hillesum’s diaries, she is struggling with her own faith, but as time goes on, she begins to have a clearer idea of who God is. To her, God is a companion who goes with her, He is her conscience, with Hillesum writing, “There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God. Sometimes I am there, too. But more often stones and grit block the well, and God is buried beneath. Then He must be dug out again” (44). As seen in this quote, Hillesum struggles internally with God. She constantly loses her way, but she makes her way back to God to dig Him out. Unlike determinism and perfectionism, which either have a domineering God or one who is nonexistent, realism challenges both views with God as an internal being, not one who is heavenward. Hillesum’s own views of God are concurring with this view, with Hillesum writing, “I imagine that there are people who pray with their eyes turned heavenward. They seek God outside themselves. And there are those who bow their heads and bury it in their hands. I think that these seek God inside” (44). In the beginning of Hillesum’s diaries, her relationship with God is very intimate, with Hillesum writing, “The girl who could not kneel but learned to do so on the rough coconut matting in an untidy bathroom. Such things are often more intimate than sex. The story of the girl who gradually learned to kneel is something I would love to write about in the fullest possible way,” but as time goes on, her image of God becomes more communal, including those who surround her (61).
Unlike the determinism and perfectionism views of community, which exist for our education and keep us from harming others, but in which we don’t affect the community at all, realism contradicts this, because it allows us to affect the community of which we are in. For example, in the diaries of Etty Hillesum, she does things for other people, which really helps her, and in the end, it brings the community of Westerbork together. Upon Hillesum’s departure to the Auschwitz death camp, her friend, Jopie Vleeschhouwer writes, “After her departure I spoke to a little Russian woman and various other protégés of hers. And the way they felt about her leaving speaks volumes for the love and devotion she had given to them all” (364). In the beginning of Hillesum’s own diaries, one questions her attachment to reality, thinking that she is consumed only in herself. In her diaries, her observations are directed inward, aimed to solve her own problems, but as time goes on, she can begin to focus on her outside world, and when she is in Westerbork, her sense of community is full, with Hillesum seeing God through those around her. Hillesum writes on page 323:
“Many feel that their love of mankind languishes at Westerbork because it receives no nourishment—meaning that people here don’t give you much occasion to love them. ‘The mass is a hideous monster; individuals are pitiful,’ someone said. But I keep discovering that there is no causal connection between people’s behavior and the love you feel for them. Love for one’s fellow man is like an elemental glow that sustains you. […] It’s a little bit bare of love here, and I myself feel so inexpressibly rich; I cannot explain it.”
In this quote, Hillesum still finds meaning to life, still sees life as beautiful, even though her own physical freedom has been taken away.
Even though Hillesum’s own physical freedom could be taken away, her own spiritual freedom could not be hindered. In realism, human beings are free of material objects, and are more dependent on the internal freedom of thought and spirit, even though the external is confining. Hillesum says on page 287, “The realms of the soul and the spirit are so spacious and unending that this little bit if physical discomfort and suffering really doesn’t matter all that much. I do not feel I have been robbed of my freedom; essentially no one can do me any harm at all.” With this, we can see Hillesum is not tied down by her imprisonment, instead, she still feels a sense of freedom in Westerbork. But in the beginning of her diaries, her journey towards inner freedom is a struggle, with Hillesum writing, “It is a slow and painful process, this striving after true inner freedom” (55). Hillesum’s process of gaining inner freedom is not always easy and she is guided by S. (Spier) in these matters. She credits his teaching to helping her find her way to God, writing, “You were the mediator between God and me, and now you, the mediator, have gone, and my path leads straight to God” (200).
In determinism, ethics do not exist. Instead, it is seen as fate or destiny, while perfectionism sees morality as learning what is right, and then conforming your life to it. But in realism, morality is seen as an organic process of growing, where we evolve as people, growing to understand the human condition. Before we can become part of the community, we must evolve internally. As Hillesum states on page 84, “I really see no other solution than to turn inward and to root out all the rottenness there. I no longer believe that we can change anything in the world until we have first changed ourselves.” Like realism, Hillesum recognizes morality as an organic process, saying, “Everything is a growing process. And in between, emotions and sensations that strike you as lightning. But still the most important thing is the organic process of growing” (102). In this quote, Hillesum sees that the only way to grow is in continuing to better herself, and in addition, Hillesum can see that it is the only way to contribute to society, saying, “If one wants to exert a moral influence on others, one must start with one’s own morals” (216).
In the beginning of this section, we were told that Hillesum would be our guide to a new way of looking at who we are. I would have to agree with this. Hillesum’s own outlook on life can be so inspirational, that it pushes us to better ourselves, possibly only finding only one sliver of what she found. In the beginning of her diaries, we find Hillesum a complete wreck, but through her own mind and relationships, mainly S., she is able to further her mind, and develop a new understanding of the human condition. Some people have difficulties seeing Hillesum as any sort of mentor, claiming that we need someone like “The Terminator,” but Hillesum teaches us what “The Terminator” cannot. I believe that Hillesum can be seen as a universal mentor, because she possesses characteristics which we all have. Unlike an Arnold Schwarzenegger character, Hillesum is not impermeable; instead, she has her foibles and fortes, her doubts, her triumphs, and her failures. Hillesum is a mentor whom we can identify. Throughout her diaries, she is closed off to her surroundings, with her consciousness directed towards solving her own inner problems, but in her letters from Westerbork, she focuses on the environment surrounding her, giving a helping hand to those in need of it. Even though Etty is imprisoned, her outlook on life is a redefining experience, and she refuses to hate. Hillesum writes on page 11, “[…] indiscriminate hatred is the worst thing there is. It is the sickness of the soul,” and that “[…] every atom of hatred added to the world makes it an even more inhospitable place” (256). Etty’s own freedom of hatred is an inspirational test for us all.
In this section, we have learned about two different philosophies of who human beings are: determinism and perfectionism, whilst being presented with a third philosophy from Etty Hillesum. Determinism takes into account that all humans are left to be controlled by a set of programs and equations, removing all responsibility from our behavior, and saying that our main function is to reproduce, completing our gene pool. In perfectionism, all humans have freedom, a given ability to choose for oneself, but that freedom can be taken away. Thus, both attitudes leave us dissatisfied in their explanation of who we are. With Hillesum’s “deep well” realism, we can take into account that humans are much more complicated beings, with emotions, passions, and have free will. In realism, one’s physical freedom could be taken away, but one’s internal freedom of mind and spirit cannot. Hillesum’s realism is a more complete view of who humans are, with realism calling for our inner voices, saying that we all live a life a meaning and worth. “Deep well” realism gives our inner voice the name of God, seen as a companion that goes with us through our journey, but it can also be seen in others. Etty Hillesum’s process of “organic” growing is an inspirational journey, with Hillesum becoming our guide on our own roads.
-Jennifer W.
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