Hege Idealism

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Quote from  https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/help/mean08.htm

Having witnessed social change in Britain thanks to industrialisation, and in France thanks to the guillotine, Hegel looked forward to a less traumatic and chaotic revolution in Germany which he saw as led by the social elite – philosophy professors, enlightened monarchs and a meritocratic civil service, rather than the blind destruction wrought by mobs and factories. Although he supported the right of slaves and oppressed nations to throw off their oppressors, he wanted his native Germany to achieve modernity through the perfection of a state which would guarantee the freedoms of its citizens. He saw states as guarantors of freedom, not instruments of oppression and was resolutely opposed to destructive, revolutionary methods of achieving social progress. He regarded the poor and working class as incapable of being agents of social progress – their misery was a social problem which could be solved only by the intervention of the enlightened elite.

the term “idealism” captures the belief that reality is shaped by ideas

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Hegel is indeed considered an idealist, and his philosophical system significantly influenced the development of Absolute Idealism. Let’s delve into the details:

  1. Absolute Idealism:

    • Absolute Idealism is a philosophical theory primarily associated with G.W.F. Hegel and Friedrich Schelling, both German idealist philosophers of the 19th century. It also extends to other thinkers like Josiah Royce and the British idealists1.
    • Key principles of Absolute Idealism include:
      • The everyday world of things and embodied minds is not the true reality but merely how it appears based on uncriticized categories.
      • The best reflection of the world lies not in physical and mathematical categories but in terms of a self-conscious mind.
      • Thought represents the relationship between each particular experience and the infinite whole, rather than imposing ready-made forms on given material.
    • For Hegel, idealism meant that the finite world is a reflection of mind, which alone is truly real. He believed that limited existence presupposes infinite unlimited being, within which the finite exists as a dependent element.
    • Hegel emphasized that truth arises from the coherence between thoughts, rather than mere correspondence with external realities.
    • As one progresses from the confusing world of sense experience to more complex scientific categories, the Absolute Idea—of which all other abstract ideas are parts—becomes clearer. The Absolute Idea represents the ultimate reality.
    • Schelling, while similar to Hegel in accepting the Absolute Idea, differed by identifying the Absolute as an undifferentiated unity of opposites. In this view, subject and object lose their distinction in the anonymity of the Absolute.
    • Hegel critiqued Schelling’s position in his work Phänomenologie des Geistes (Phenomenology of Mind)

 

  1. Hegel’s Idealism:

    • Hegel’s idealism is rooted in his concept of dialectical development. He believed that reality unfolds through a process of contradictions, synthesis, and progress.
    • His famous dialectical triad consists of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. Through this process, ideas evolve and lead to higher forms of understanding.
    • Hegel’s idealism emphasizes the unity of opposites and the dynamic nature of reality. He saw history, culture, and individual development as part of this ongoing dialectical process.
    • In Hegel’s view, the finite world is a manifestation of the Absolute Spirit (or Geist), which evolves toward self-awareness and self-realization.
    • His work profoundly influenced subsequent philosophical movements, including Marxism and existentialism.

In summary, Hegel’s idealism centers on the notion that the finite world is a reflection of mind, and truth emerges from the coherence of thoughts. His contributions to philosophy continue to shape intellectual discourse to this day12. If you’d like to explore more about Hegel’s various types of idealism, I recommend further reading

 

ertainly! The debate between idealism and materialism has persisted for centuries, and contemporary philosophy continues to explore and refine these perspectives. Let’s consider some aspects of the ongoing discussion:

  1. Idealism:

    • Contemporary Idealism: While classical idealism (associated with philosophers like Plato, Kant, and Hegel) has evolved, contemporary idealists still emphasize the role of consciousness, mind, and ideas in shaping our understanding of reality.
    • Phenomenal Idealism: Some philosophers propose phenomenal idealism, which suggests that our experience of the world is entirely constructed by our minds. In this view, the external world is a projection of our mental processes.
    • Constructivist Epistemology: Idealists argue that knowledge is actively constructed by the mind, rather than passively received from an external reality. Social constructivism and cognitive constructivism fall within this framework.

  2. Materialism:

    • Physicalism: Materialism often aligns with physicalism, asserting that the physical world (including matter, energy, and natural processes) is the fundamental reality. Our consciousness and mental states emerge from physical processes (such as neural activity).
    • Scientific Materialism: Many scientific disciplines operate within a materialist framework. Physics, chemistry, and biology study the physical world and seek naturalistic explanations for phenomena.
    • Reductive Materialism: Some materialists aim to reduce all phenomena (including consciousness) to physical processes. However, this reductionist approach faces challenges, especially regarding subjective experiences.

  3. Emergent Views:

    • Emergent Materialism: Some contemporary philosophers propose an emergent materialism that acknowledges the emergence of new properties at higher levels of complexity. Consciousness, for instance, may emerge from complex neural networks.
    • Non-Reductive Physicalism: This perspective recognizes that mental phenomena cannot be fully reduced to physical processes but still considers them as arising from physical systems.

  4. Dual Aspects and Panpsychism:

    • Dual Aspect Theory: Some philosophers explore the idea that both mind and matter are two aspects of a deeper underlying reality. This avoids strict dualism while acknowledging the distinctiveness of mental and physical phenomena.
    • Panpsychism: Panpsychism posits that consciousness or mind is a fundamental aspect of the universe, even at the level of particles or fundamental fields. It challenges the strict separation between mind and matter.

  5. Holistic Approaches:

    • Holistic Idealism: Some contemporary idealists emphasize holistic approaches, where the whole system (mind, matter, and their interactions) is more significant than its individual parts.
    • Holistic Materialism: Similarly, holistic materialists recognize the interconnectedness of all phenomena and seek to understand reality as an integrated whole.

  6. Scientific Advances and Open Questions:

    • Advances in neuroscience, cognitive science, and quantum physics continue to inform the debate. However, questions about the nature of consciousness, the mind-body relationship, and the origin of subjective experience remain open.
    • Some scientists explore the possibility of a unified theory that integrates both mental and physical aspects.

In conclusion, contemporary philosophy maintains a rich dialogue between idealism and materialism. Rather than seeking a definitive conclusion, scholars appreciate the complexity and interconnectedness of these perspectives. The quest for a comprehensive understanding of reality continues to inspire philosophical inquiry.

 

 

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