The claim of memory
Joan-Carles Melich, a philosopher and professor at the UAB, has recently put his thoughts on Auschwitz again on the table with the reissue of his book ‘The Auschwitz lesson’, originally published a quarter of a century ago. This reissue coincides with the eighth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi camps, a time that forces us to reflect on individual and collective responsibilities during the Holocaust.
Philosophy as a reflection of the present
Melich emphasizes that philosophy must focus on issues that affect the present, instead of coming to comment on the current affairs. For him, Auschwitz is not only a historical memory, but a constant reflection of the human condition and a warning of the possibilities of evil in our society today.
The Natural of Evil
In his work, Melich discusses the tendency of philosophy to address issues such as good and beauty, while evil is often in the shade. He argues that the experience of evil is ubiquitous, and that Auschwitz, with his brutality, serves as a radical example of the deep fissures in human nature.
Auschwitz with Universal Repte
Melich claims that Auschwitz’s lesson transcends national and ethnic borders. Its message is that history must be a constant reminder that promotes us to act against contemporary injustices. As the far right gains ground in many places around the world, the author invites us to recognize the dangers of indifference.
The fragility of humanism
In his analysis, Melich criticizes humanism for his inability to recognize the premonitory signs of evil. His reflection reminds us that the perpetrators of the Holocaust were common people, and that the true danger lies in the normalization of violence and indifference.
Building an Ethics of Memory
The author emphasizes the importance of education in historical memory, differentiating between academic and testimonial memory. The voice of the survivors, like Primo Levi, is essential to keep the consciousness about the horrors of the past alive.
The roll of indifference
Melich recalls that indifference is one of the great evils of today’s society. The figure of the official who executes orders without questioning the consequences is a disturbing reminder of how evil can simply be facilitated with passivity.
challenges for Current Ethics
The philosopher proposes an ‘ethics of the situation’, which recognizes that decisions cannot always be based on absolute principles, but must be adaptive and compassionate. This form of ethics demands an active response to other people’s suffering, a reflection that is crucial in the face of the ethical challenges of the contemporary world.
Melich concludes that memory and critical reflection are not only commemorative acts, but are urgent needs to prevent the past from being repeated again. Our collective responsibility is to build a society that learns from the mistakes of the past and fights against any way of evil that may emerge in the present.