The need for ongoing capital sins persuaded the bourgeoisie to abandon Western moral tradition

Evidence

The very fact that the “original sin” of “original accumulation of capital” would need additional sins to keep the system going was far more effective in persuading the bourgeoisie to shake off the restraints of Western tradition than either its philosopher or its underworld. It finally induced the German bourgeoisie to throw off the mask of hypocrisy and openly confess its relationship to the mob, calling on it expressly to champion its property interests. — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 423

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies Arendt’s concept of ‘original sin of accumulation’ and the mob-bourgeoisie relationship of principle.
• XREF: Connects to Arendt’s broader claim that imperialism erodes the moral restraints of Western tradition, which is foundational for later Islamophobia readings on how the colonial state sheds restraint.