Católica Medical School Library invites the entire academic community and the public to visit the exhibition “Hannah Arendt: 50/80”, which will be open from June 15 to July 10, 2026. 

Following its presentation at the João Paulo II University Library in Lisbon, the exhibition now comes to Católica Medical School, reinforcing the University’s commitment to promoting critical thinking, interdisciplinary dialogue, and reflection on ethical responsibility in the contemporary world. 

The exhibition was developed by Bernardo Freitas — in collaboration with the João Paulo II University Library — an alumnus of the Master’s program in Political Science and International Relations: Security and Defense, at the Institute for Political Studies, as part of his master’s dissertation dedicated to the work and intellectual legacy of Hannah Arendt, entitled “The Concept of Modernity in Hannah Arendt: From Anti-Systematicity to the Aggregate”. 

Through a diverse range of documentary sources, the exhibition explores both Hannah Arendt’s biography and the central concepts of her work. Among the themes highlighted are The Human Condition, Modernity, Totalitarianism, and the Banality of Evil— key axes for understanding Arendtian thought and its relevance to contemporary political, ethical, and philosophical debate. 

At Católica Medical School, this reflection resonates particularly by engaging with central questions of ethics in research involving human beings. Hannah Arendt’s thought, marked by its focus on individual responsibility, the exercise of critical judgement, and the dangers of uncritical obedience, makes it possible to establish a bridge with the fundamental principles that guide biomedical and health research: respect for human dignity, autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, careful assessment of risks and benefits, justice in the selection of participants, and the protection of individuals or groups in vulnerable situations. 

The exhibition “Hannah Arendt: 50/80” therefore aims to serve as a space for reflection and debate, welcoming not only those already familiar with Hannah Arendt’s work but also all those wishing to begin exploring her ideas. In this sense, the exhibition also stands as a tribute to life, intellectual journey, and enduring relevance of this important political theorist, underlining the contemporary significance of her thought in areas as diverse as politics, philosophy, medicine, science, and research ethics. 

The exhibition is open to the entire academic community and to the public, promoting free, inclusive, and open access to culture and knowledge.