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Hegel

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lnandana05
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Hegel Absolute idealism

Absolute Idealism is a philosophical concept attributed to G.W.F. Hegel. It


suggests that there is a unified and all-encompassing spiritual entity called
the Absolute Spirit. This unfolds itself through history and encompasses all
natural, social, and historical events and phenomena. Hegel’s idealism,
based on the notion of the Absolute Spirit, is known as “Absolute Idealism.”,

What is Absolute Idealism?

Absolute idealism is a philosophical belief that suggests that the ultimate


reality or “absolute” is not just physical matter but also includes the mind or
consciousness. According to this idea, everything in the world is
interconnected, and our thoughts and ideas play a significant role in shaping
our understanding of reality.

Who came up with the Theory of Absolute Idealism?

Absolute idealism was developed by a German philosopher named Georg


Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. He lived in the 18 th and 19th centuries and is
considered one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy. Hegel
believed that reality is a dynamic process where ideas and concepts evolve
and develop over time.

Historical Background of Idealism

German idealism emerged in the late 18 th and early 19th centuries as a


philosophical movement in Germany.

It was influenced by the works of Immanuel Kant. It was closely related to


romanticism and the revolutionary politics of the Enlightenment.

Prominent thinkers of German idealism include Immanuel Kant, Johann


Gottlieb Fichte, Friedrich Schelling, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

Relation to Religion

Absolute Idealism has a relation to religion. It seeks to understand the nature


of reality and the universe in a comprehensive and spiritual manner.
Hegel’s philosophy includes elements that can be interpreted in religious
terms. However, his concept of God as the Absolute Spirit is non-personal
and non-Creator.

Relation to Science

Absolute Idealism does not have a direct relation to science in the way
empirical sciences operate.

Hegel believed that rational development is an essential element of spirit. He


saw reality as rationally ordered, which can be seen as a philosophical
perspective influencing the way we approach scientific knowledge.

Applications of Hegel’s Absolute Idealism

Hegel’s Absolute Idealism has had a significant impact on philosophers in the


20th century. Many developed their own thoughts as a rejection of Hegel’s
speculative metaphysics.

Hegel’s dialectical method is a key aspect of Absolute Idealism. It has


influenced various fields such as philosophy, social sciences, political theory,
and cultural studies.

The dialectical approach has its emphasis on the interplay of opposing forces
and the synthesis of contradictions. It has been applied in analyzing
historical processes, social movements, and ideological conflicts.

Criticisms against Absolute Idealism

Arthur Schopenhauer criticized Hegel’s speculative metaphysics. He


developed his own philosophy as a rejection and reaction against Hegelian
idealism.

Philosophers like G.E. Moore and Bertrand Russell also raised criticisms
against Hegel’s Absolute Idealism.

Pragmatism offered a different perspective that challenged certain aspects of


Absolute Idealism.

Conclusion
At its core, absolute idealism invites us to consider the relationship between
the mind and matter. It proposes that reality is fundamentally of a mental or
spiritual character.

While this notion may seem complex at first, the basic premise is quite
simple: that perceptions, thoughts and ideas give rise to – or even constitute
– the reality we experience through our senses. The physical world, in this
view, is a manifestation of the Absolute Mind or Spirit.

Rather than getting bogged down in abstract theory, we can approach


absolute idealism by cultivating an open, inquisitive mindset. By questioning
our assumptions about the nature of reality and considering multiple
perspectives, we can develop a deeper understanding of the world.

Philosophy encourages critical thinking and exploring different ideas, without


dictating “correct” answers. So as we contemplate the concepts of absolute
idealism, we should do so in a spirit of curiosity and openness. These big
questions can inspire us to think more broadly about ourselves, reality and
our place in the universe.

Dialectical method
Dialectics, or a dialectic, refers to a form of logical argumentation involving
the progression of two opposing views, and a related philosophical concept
of ideological evolution. This process can also be called the dialectical
method.

The face/vase optical illusion is a visual example of a dialectics

German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (often shortened to


G.W.F. Hegel, or just Hegel) is one of the most influential philosophers to live
in the past few centuries. His work has been central to the development of
the works of Kierkegaard, Derrida, Foucault, Marx, Sartre, and others. His
central contribution to philosophy is known as the Hegelian dialectic. Hegel
details his proposed method of dialectics in his 1817 work Encyclopedia of
Philosophical Sciences, more often called Encyclopedia Logic.
The simplest explanation of Hegel’s dialectics is this: a thesis (an argument)
is proposed, generating a counterargument, the antithesis. Much like in the
scientific method, philosophers will need to take the merits of both the thesis
and antithesis into account, creating a new thesis called the synthesis. The
synthesis, as the new thesis, may generate a new
counterargument/antithesis, and so on.

This thesis-antithesis-synthesis terminology arose after Hegel as a way to


summarize Hegel’s philosophy. Hegel himself said, “Logical doctrine has
three sides: (α) the Abstract side, or that of understanding: (ß) the
Dialectical, or that of negative reason: (y) the Speculative, or that of positive
reason.” This means, in essence, that there is first an understanding or
conception of an idea, followed by the dialectical, deeper understanding
where something that seemed to be stable knowledge is revealed to be far
more complex. When one engages with the complications of the dialectic,
there can then be a speculative, new understanding, which may later be
revealed as lacking, too.

Hegelian dialectics are most commonly seen in logical formulations, such as


this one from Hegel in his work The Objective Logic:

What is dialectical thinking?

Dialectical thinking (also called dialectical idealism) is the use of dialectics


only in the abstract. This is how Hegel used dialectics. Hegel focused on
understanding ideas in relation to one another rather than looking into
material conditions as the basis for understanding.

What is dialectics according to Marx?

Marx’s dialectical materialism was born out of Marx’s own work with Hegel.
However, Hegel works within dialectical thinking/idealism, considering the
abstract first. Marx, on the other hand, thinks that material conditions
determine understanding (ideas, the abstract).

What is a dialectic example?


In a dialectic, one begins by offering two seemingly opposite ideas and then
arrives at a synthesis of them which merges the two into a new
understanding. Hegel uses “being” and “nothing,” both of which only mean
something when defined in relation to the other. The synthesis of these is
“becoming.”

Here's a detailed explanation:

*Thesis*

1. Initial idea or statement

2. Starting point for the dialectical process

3. Represents a partial or limited understanding

4. Often reflects a specific perspective or viewpoint

Example: “The government should prioritize individual freedom.”

*Antithesis*

1. Opposing idea or statement

2. Challenges and contradicts the thesis

3. Reveals limitations and flaws in the thesis

4. Represents an alternative perspective or viewpoint

Example: “The government should prioritize collective security.”

*Synthesis*

1. Combination of thesis and antithesis

2. Emerges from the conflict between thesis and antithesis

3. Represents a higher level of understanding

4. Resolves contradictions and limitations

Example: “The government should balance individual freedom with


collective security.”
*Dialectical Process*

1. *Abstract* (Thesis): Initial idea

2. *Negation* (Antithesis): Opposing idea

3. *Negation of the Negation* (Synthesis): Higher understanding

*Cycle Repeats*

1. Synthesis becomes new Thesis

2. New Antithesis emerges

3. Process repeats, refining understanding

*Dialectical Process Stages*

1. *Immediate* (Thesis): Initial understanding

2. *Mediated* (Antithesis): Contradiction and conflict

3. *Absolute* (Synthesis): Higher understanding

*Key Principles*

1. *Unity of Opposites*: Thesis and antithesis are interconnected

2. *Quantitative Change*: Gradual changes lead to qualitative shifts

3. *Aufhebung* (Sublation): Preserving and transcending previous stages

*Examples*

1. Historical: Thesis (Feudalism) → Antithesis (Capitalism) → Synthesis


(Socialism)

2. Philosophical: Thesis (Rationalism) → Antithesis (Empiricism) → Synthesis


(Critique of Pure Reason)
*

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