The concept of "World" is central in Hannah Arendt's thought but it is nowhere very clearly defined. In general, the concept refers to that which has to do with specifically human affairs and thus encompasses neither the natural world or a possible, transcendent spiritual world as such. Yet she easily slips into giving World political content as that which defines the site of effective political action and speech, with certain important characteristics of its own. In my presentation I want to explore these two senses of World, offer certain examples of both senses, and some of the problems with the concept in general.

 

 Richard H. King is Professor (Emeritus) in American Studies at University of Nottingham, UK. His special area of interest is intellectual history of the US, Europe and the Black Atlantic. His particular interests focus on political thought and critiques of race and racism, along with the exploration of the cross-cultural and transnational movement of ideas and systems of thought. Most recently he has authored Race, Culture and the Intellectuals, 1940-1970 (2004)and co-edited Hannah Arendt and the Uses of History (2007) with Professor Dan Stone. He is presently working on a project, The American Arendt, that will assess Arendt's influence on American thought and culture--and the latter's influence on her thought.