Hegel - Complete

Question 1

What is Hegel’s critique of Kant? THREE parts.

Answer 1

1. Kant assumes that there is a difference between ourselves and this cognition (i.e. reason/logic).
2. Cognition/reason is part of the ultimate reality, not independent of it.
3. We try to understand ultimate reality/the absolute and do that by trying to understand the nature of our capacities. However, Hegel says this is wrong - use our own rational capacities to examine our own rational capacities.

Question 2

What is Hegel’s critique of Kant: ‘We try to understand ultimate reality by trying to understand the nature of our capacities.’

Answer 2

Hegel says this is wrong

- Use our own rational capacities to examine our own rational capacities.

Question 3

What is Hegel’s critique of Kant’s use of reason/cognition?

Answer 3

Kant assumes that there is a difference between ourselves and this cognition (i.e. reason/logic).

Question 4

What is Hegel’s critique of Kant: ‘cognition is independent and separated from the Absolute. I.E. If reason wasn’t there, then the ultimate reality would still be there.’

Answer 4

COGNITION/REASON IS PART OF THE ULTIMATE REALITY, not independent of it.

• We are already ‘in’ the truth.

Question 5

What is Hegel’s Central Point?

Answer 5

• We are part of reality from the very start.

- Therefore our knowledge is originally connected to and is part of reality.

Question 6

What is logic according to Hegel?

Answer 6

Hegel believes that logic is “the realm of pure thought”.

• Therefore, logic is the ‘explanation’ of God because He existed before everything else (is eternal) and has a finite mind.

Question 7

What is the metaphysical principle according to Hegel?

Answer 7

Self consciousness.

Question 8

Why is self-consciousness in direct contact with the ultimate reality? THREE things.

Answer 8

1. It’s the divine part of us.
2. Not physical, has a form that can serve as a basic principle that underlies everything.
3. Involves a unity of opposites in its fusion of subject and object.

Question 9

Example of unity of subject/object.

Answer 9

I (subject) realise THAT (object) is ME (subject/object).

Question 10

What is the basis of the structure of dialectic logic?

Answer 10

The structure of self consciousness.

Question 11

According to Hegel, the entire universe is thinking. If this is so then what does this mean for our own thinking?

Answer 11

Our own thinking is an aspect of (microcosm) the very thinking process that is the universe as a whole.

Question 12

According to Hegel what is the ‘whole’ composed of?

Answer 12

The full process of a thing.

Plan > Development > Product

This is the Full Process.

Question 13

What is ‘spirit’ according to Hegel?

Answer 13

communal social consciousness, the “I” that is “we” and the “we” that is “I”

Question 14

What does Hegel mean by substance?

Answer 14

Substance means the outer world.

Question 15

What are four ways of describing Hegel’s term ‘logic’?

Answer 15

1. pure concepts.
2. non-empirical.
3. abstract.
4. universal.

Question 16

What are three ways of describing Hegel’s term ‘nature’?

Answer 16

1. Spatio-temporal.
2. empirical.
3. concrete.

Question 17

Explain Hegel’s reality. FOUR parts.

Answer 17

1. Reality begins with LOGIC (a pure concept), which develops into a complex system of pure thought.
2. When developed it transforms into (its opposite) NATURE (spatio-temporal).
3. NATURE then manifests into plants, animals and humans.
4. These pure concepts then manifest as human society in world history, culture, social consciousness, freedom - FUSION of LOGIC and NATURE into SPIRIT.

Question 18

What does logic progress into?

Answer 18

LOGIC progresses into NATURE.

Question 19

What does nature progress into?

Answer 19

NATURE progresses into SPIRIT.

Question 20

What is the core structure of self-consciousness?

Answer 20

A subject (S) thinks of an object (O).

The subject (S) recognises the object (O) as being itself (S).

S > O > S/O

Question 21

What are the FOUR criteria for a direct expression of the ultimate reality? Hegel.

Answer 21

1. Spontaneous creativity.
2. Freedom.
3. A unity of opposites.
4. Not physical - its form can be the basic principle of everything.

Question 22

What is Marx’s critique of Hegel? FOUR parts.

Answer 22

1. Subjects are actual people, not abstract ideas.
2. First people, then abstractions - not the other way around.
3. An abstract concept cannot be experienced. - impractical.
4. Hegel has a fact of logic outlook (versus logic of fact).

Question 23

What is the relationship between humans and the Spirit?

Answer 23

Humans are the vehicles through which “Spirit” (communal social consciousness) realises itself in a rational form.

Question 24

Hegel’s system of philosophy begins with what?

Answer 24

God the creator.

Question 25

What is Hegel’s Master/Servant scenario?

Answer 25

• The servant works for the master.
• The master becomes dependent upon the servant.
• Then the servant acquires more power.
• Therefore the servant experiences increased freedom through work.

Question 26

What are the three results of Hegel’s Master/Servant scenario?

Answer 26

1. Mutual dependency.
2. Power relationship becomes less asymmetrical (a little more equal).
3. BUT power relationship is never equalised, due to Master’s death-threats and superior power.