Hegel's Subjective and Concrete Individuality
History's Path towards Development of Humanity in the Germanic World
Mar 16, 2009
The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) regards history as a gradual process towards reaching consciousness and developing the idea of freedom. “True history” for Hegel began with the Persian Empire, which was, however, defeated in the battle of Salamis by the Greek, who became the second phase of “historical consciousness”. Their accomplishments and knowledge was then embraced by the Roman Empire. The Romans accepted individual human rights in an abstract form, but, according to Hegel, it was only during the Germanic World that the idea of freedom found its true expression.
The Power Structure and Control of the Medieval Church
After the fall of Rome there was a period of “thousand years of stagnation”, according to Hegel. At that time the Church had taken power and control over human beings and had inserted itself between humanity and the spiritual world and asked for blind obedience to strict rules and rites and rituals. Hegel calls the Middle Ages a “long, eventful and terrible night”, which ended with the Renaissance period and the Reformation.
The Lasting Effects of the Reformation and the Individual's Direct Contact with God
The Reformation, especially under Martin Luther, paved way for a new relationship with God and a redefinition of the role of the church and its priests. Martin Luther was appalled at the fact that the Catholic Church was selling indulgences and started his movement as a “protest”, which later turned into the protestant religion.
Hegel believes that it was a decisive event in history as it put the individual in closer contact with God and eliminated authority figures like the Church. At this point, each individual could become their own priests and interpret the scriptures on their own. It was the individual conscience that ultimately became the judge to truth and goodness because the essential principle of the Reformation was that “Man is in his very nature destined to be free”.
The Redefinition of Social Institutions during the Enlightenment
The focus on human rights and the growing importance of reason versus obedience to religious authorities created the Age of Enlightenment. Through the use of clear and impartial reason and logic there was a conscious attempt to reform all the social institutions, from law to government and constitutions.
During this time French thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot, who were influential in spreading their ideas through the monumental work of the encyclopedias, wanted to strip away all superstition and irrational beliefs to be replaced by the principle of reason.
The French Revolution and its Repercussions in World History
These tendencies eventually led to the French Revolution and the overthrow of the existing nobility. Although it was crucial in the development of human rights with its principles of “Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality” Hegel considered the revolution itself as a failure, as it initially led to a form of tyranny during the “Revolutionary Terror”, but its influences spread to other neighboring countries, in particular to Germany.
One of its consequences was the establishment of the code of rights which ensured freedom of the person and of property. It was decisive because it led to the abolition of the old feudal system and brought about what Hegel calls “subjective freedom”, meaning that each individual would govern according to their own conscience and convictions.
Interestingly, Hegel stops there with his re-examination of history as a struggle of gaining consciousness and freedom. His view is a linear definition of history with the claim that history is not random but has a purpose, namely for humanity to gain consciousness of the self and as such to become free.
Sources
Singer, Peter. Hegel. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
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