Synopsis of Class: March 8, 2001

The Trial of Eichmann

On this day, students presented prosecution and defense arguments in the trial of Eichmann, the charge being that of "crimes against humanity." Students could support their arguments by using quotations from any of the recent readings, including texts of philosophy (Kant), of social history (Foucault, Weber, Gellately, Goldhagen), of psychology (Milgram, Zimbardo), of international law (Nuremberg war trials or the new international court in the process of being formed), and of work directly connected to the case of Eichmann (Arendt and Eichmann Interrogated). Each council had the right to object to a line of questioning provided they supplied a clear argument for their objection, after which the opposing council could advance an argument. The judge then decided on admissability.

The structure of the trial was quadrapartite:

Prof. Tom Adler, Chair of the Department of English, served as bailliff and Prof. Gordon Mork, Chair of the Department of History, served as judge. The jury was composed of actors and directors who have been putting together Brecht's play, The Private Life of the Master Race, which will be performed in Fowler Hall on March 22.

CLICK HERE FOR THE JURY'S JUDGMENT OF EICHMANN.

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