The Era of the Three Phobias: Aporophobia, Kalocratophobia, and Ecophobia—Consequences of Hubris Syndrome and the Banality of Evil

Abstract

This article reflects on the meaning of hubris syndrome and its relationship to Hannah Arendt’s concept of the “banality of evil,” a concept that ultimately converges with and becomes intertwined with the former. This amalgamation gives rise to what has been termed the “era of the three phobias”: aporophobia, kalocratophobia, and ecophobia. These categories frame three major contemporary realities reflected in migration crises, state interference in the political decisions of other nations, and environmental degradation. Although these phenomena have been evident for centuries, they have never become as acute, visible, or apparent to the global population as they are today. According to Adela Cortina, aporophobia refers to the rejection of those who have nothing. Such individuals are cast aside because they are perceived as contributing nothing to their country’s GDP growth and as lacking purchasing power precisely because of their circumstances. Kalocratophobia, on the other hand, denotes the rejection of “good governments”—that is, governments established to focus on the pursuit of the common good. Finally, the article examines the concept of ecophobia, understood as a rejection of the ecosystem manifested through the exploitation and overexploitation of biodiversity for the benefit of multinational corporations and the most powerful actors.