Hegel created a world view of philosophy. He believed that people are defined by each other and the roles they play in the world. He believes that "concepts are conceptual; their meaning depends on their contrasts and complements." That view is a rejection of Kant's philosophy, whom Hegel admired. He believed that humanity works together to achieve a Weltgeist, or a world spirit. He believes we are all in this world together and we are striving for an all-embracing consciousness that will unify the world.
His goal was to find the absolute truth. He wanted people to be aware that they were part of something larger than themselves and realize that individual contribution to knowledge and truth are never quite definitive, but biased to one side or another.
Factual question: What is a Weltgeist?
World spirit
Discussion question: Hegel believed that the individual is second to the state. Do you believe this to be true?
Well I suppose that I am answering a little biased here(military and all) but heck yes I believe the individual is second to the state! 19 people happy and 1 person unhappy is better than 1 person happy 19 others unhappy. An individual should strive for happiness, bliss or whatever you want to call it, but ultimately push his needs aside for the welfare of the state. Look at it this way, though, a large group of individuals make up the "state", so in the end putting the state at top priority is putting individuals at top priority.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Krisitn in a way. I too see it that the happiness for the whole is more important than the happiness of the individual. I also see that the whole is made of individuals who if they are happy independently then the whole will again be happy. I think there should be a mixture of both, the individual needs to seek happiness and at they too need to help create happiness in the whole of society..
ReplyDeleteI'm super late on replying to this. But better late than never, riiight?
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Kristen and Jon, but more with what Jon said. If the individual is happy and working to be the best she/he can be, then a ripple effect will occur where more people do what is necessay to make them happy and the state will be in better, for lack of better words, state. However, I don't think this means individuals should lose their individuality within the state. I don't think there should be a cookie-cutter state or a state of complete conformity, but rather a group of individuals working together as a whole to make society better.