Hegel: An Overview of His Philosophy

Hegel was a German philosopher known for his "totalizing philosophy," which embraced an inclusive attitude towards
philosophy. As a well-read philosopher, he meticulously analyzed all earlier philosophical thought in his works, notably
"The History of Philosophy" and "Encyclopedia of Philosophical Sciences". Hegel was considered the national
philosopher of Germany. His philosophy, particularly the concept of the Absolute Spirit, was believed to be profoundly
manifested through the hopes and aspirations of the German people. It is suggested that Hegel's philosophy influenced
various movements, including Nazism, the Marxist interpretation of history, and European spiritualism. Despite his
significant contributions, Hegel also criticized and adapted concepts from other philosophies.
The Absolute Idea of Hegel
Hegel's Absolute Idea represents the supreme existence, characterized by no limitations, conditions, or dependencies,
being entirely interdependent. It is a singular and ultimate reality, reflecting an absolute monism without duality or
pluralism. While changes occur within the Absolute, the Absolute itself remains perfect and unchanging.
This Absolute is a concrete reality, understood as a supreme spirit possessing consciousness. It is all-inclusive and
indivisible, with no distinction between the knower, the known, and knowledge. All phenomena in the world—
substances, objects, and even societal, political, and economic structures—are merely manifestations of this Absolute
Idea. The relationship between the world and the Absolute Idea is one of organic unity. In Hegel's philosophy, everything
is fundamentally Reason or Absolute Consciousness. This perspective resolves distinctions like soul and nature,
phenomenal and noumenal, knowledge and existence, and ideas and objects, as the ultimate truth is the dynamic
Absolute Idea, which continuously unfolds and evolves.
The Absolute Idea signifies the manifestation of a supreme idea in metaphysics, implying an absence of limits. Unlike other
absolute idealists such as Plato, Spinoza, or Shankaracharya, Hegel's Absolute is not merely a unity of separate things.
Instead, it is a dynamic whole, akin to an organism, where parts are equally important and interdependent, both among
themselves and with the whole. The whole is also dependent on its parts and would be incomplete without them, forming a
unified, complete system. This concept is termed the "organic theory of Truth and reality".
Hegel's Absolute Idea is concrete, meaning it is not just an abstract concept but also reflects reality itself. Individual things,
though seemingly separate, are considered aspects or parts of this greater whole. Hegel illustrates this with an example of
a painting or a work of art. A painting cannot be understood by separately studying its components (composition, texture,
colors); rather, its beauty and meaning are comprehended as a whole, where each component has an organic, inseparable
artistic relation to all others. Similarly, reality must be understood as an organic whole, with each part playing a crucial role.
He extends this to the personality of a person, which is a derivative of their social, political, cultural, racial, and
environmental context and can only be understood holistically. Analyzing parts separately, such as a leaf under a
microscope, will not provide complete knowledge of the leaf's true "idea". To fully grasp the idea of a leaf, one must
understand its organic relation to the tree and the functioning of their relationship. Likewise, individual experiences cannot
be understood in isolation but must be viewed within the perspective of Absolute Ideas.
Hegel's View on Matter and Reality
Hegel's Absolute Idea also implies that there is no matter in itself. While he does not deny the existence of material
objects, he argues that upon analysis, any object will be converted into ideas. For example, a table, when analyzed,
reveals qualities like "woodness," "solidity," "brown color," and "extension," all of which are fundamentally ideas.
According to Hegel, objects are compositions of ideas conceived through abstraction, which is a function of reason. All
ideas in reality are conceived through reality itself.
This perspective leads to Hegel's famous dictum: "Real is Rational and Rational is Real". Hegel asserts the identity of
rationality and reality. Reason is not merely an instrument for knowing reality; rather, rationality itself is real, and
reality is rational. This tenet brought rationalism back into philosophy. He illustrates this with scientific progress, such as
space exploration. A spacecraft, though a physical object, is made possible by logical and mathematical formulas and the
rational understanding of outer space. Experience of outer space is only possible because of reason, demonstrating that
reality is rational. Similarly, X-rays, though imperceptible by senses, are logically understood because reality behaves
according to the rules of logic and reason.
The Dialectic Method
In Western philosophy, the dialectical method originated with Zeno. It was later developed by Kant, who presented his
Antinomies in a dialectical manner, showing that both a thesis and its antithesis could be simultaneously proven. However,
Hegel adopted the dialectical method in a positive manner, defining the nature of the Absolute through it. This method is
also known as the Triadic Method, consisting of three parts:
1. Thesis: The initial state of affairs.
2. Antithesis: A contradiction to the thesis, derived from the thesis itself.
3. Synthesis: The new result that reconciles the contradiction.
The contradiction (negation) is not meant to cancel the effect of the thesis or antithesis; rather, both are preserved and
included in the synthesis. The synthesis is not a mere arithmetic sum of the thesis and antithesis. This synthesis then
becomes a new thesis, which is opposed by its own antithesis, and is again reconciled into a new synthesis. This new
synthesis transcends both the prior thesis and antithesis, retaining truth from both. This triadic dialectical process continues
until a fully concrete synthesis is reached where there is no contradiction, meaning the contradiction is fully resolved.
Hegel placed great importance on negation or contradiction. Contrary to Spinoza, Hegel believed that every negation is
a determination, and it is through contradiction and negation that progress and further understanding are achieved.
Criticisms of Hegel's Philosophy
Hegel's philosophy has faced several criticisms:
• Marxist Criticism: Karl Marx criticized Hegel's dialectical method for keeping ideas as its subject matter. Marx
argued that the dialectical method should not be concerned with ideas, but rather that all history is a dialectical
movement of dialectical materialism. Marx famously stated, "Hegelian Philosophy stays on its head and to make
it Straight just we have to reversed it and I am doing the same".
• General Criticisms:
• Hegel was accused of making mystery more mysterious.
• The concept of Absolute Ideas is considered unverifiable.
• The dictum "Rational is real and real is rational" is seen as difficult to comprehend.
• He is criticized by existentialists and logical positivists.
• Russell and Moore's Criticism: Analytic philosophers like Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore refuted Hegel's
idealism. They argued that reality is not a singular, unified system and does not exhibit a part-whole relationship.
Instead, they posited that everything is independent, and reality is plural.
• Sartre's Criticism: According to Jean-Paul Sartre, Hegel's Absolute Idea leaves no room for human freedom or
free will.

Hegel vs. Plato

Hegel's philosophy bears both similarities and significant differences when compared to Plato's.
Similarities:
• Both are idealists and absolutists.
• For both, ideas are real.
• Both acknowledge the existence of multiple ideas.
• Both believe that lower ideas are subsumed into higher ideas.
Differences and Hegel's Criticisms of Plato:
• Reality as a Whole: According to Hegel, reality is one with many integral parts, a concept hinted at by Plato in
his hierarchy of ideas. However, Plato "could not clarify inter-relations between the ideas," leading to doubts
regarding their relationships and the relation of ideas to the "idea of good at Apex".
• Hierarchy of Ideas: Hegel pointed out that Plato's hierarchical system doesn't explain why the idea of good is at
the apex, and Plato "dogmatically assumed" it to be the highest.
• Logical Connection of Ideas: Plato "could not connect and relate his ideas, logically amongst themselves." It
remains unclear in Plato's philosophy how white things derive from the idea of white, or how the ideas of white or
red relate to the idea of color.
• Matter: While it appears Plato accepted matter alongside ideas in various dialogues, Hegel asserts that "there is
no matter at all," and all reality is "reality of ideas".
 • Organic Whole: Plato "could not show the reality as organic whole," and therefore could not explain how
particular things derive from their corresponding ideas.
• Abstract vs. Concrete Ideas: Plato's ideas are seen as abstract, whereas for Hegel, reality must be concrete and
not abstract. Hegel's concrete idea includes parts rather than excluding them, unlike Plato.
• Hegel views his Absolute as a "dynamic whole, like an organism," where parts are equally important
and interdependent on each other and the whole. The whole is also dependent on its parts and incomplete
without them, forming a unified, complete system. This is termed the "organic theory of Truth and
reality". This contrasts with other absolute idealists like Plato, who may see the Absolute as merely a
unity of separate things.
• Purpose of Ideas: Hegel's ideas are for this world and are manifestations of reality itself, unlike Plato's.
• Methodology: Plato used a pyramidal system, while Hegel employed a dialectical, inclusive, and dynamic
approach involving "movement".

Hegel vs. Descartes

• The source briefly notes that the "Ideas of God in Descartes was Absolute and relative" in comparison to Hegel.

Hegel vs. Spinoza

Hegel was impressed by Spinoza but also critically engaged with his philosophy.
Similarities:
• Both are monists.
• Both believe in an Absolute reality.
• Both reject materialism.
Differences and Hegel's Criticisms:
• Abstract Monism: Hegel criticized Spinoza's abstract monism. According to Spinoza, "reality is one without
many," where unity was prioritized over multiplicity. This made "all things including Human beings become more
passive waves that never return".
• "Black Night" and "Lion's Den": Hegel famously criticized Spinoza by saying:
• "Spinoza Philosophy is a black night in which all cows are equally black".
• "Spinoza's substance is like a lions hen to which all footprint point in but from which nothing
returns".
• Explaining vs. Swallowing Things: According to Hegel, "reality should explain things and not swallow them".
• Concrete vs. Abstract Substance: Hegel transforms the "abstract substances of Spinoza" into something concrete.
• Static vs. Dynamic God: Spinoza's substance, which explains the relation between God and the world, is static
and pantheistic. In contrast, Hegel's God is a process that includes all (world and nature), and the reality of God is
dialectical.
• Teleology: There is no teleology (purpose or goal-directedness) in Spinoza's philosophy, but there is teleology in
Hegel's Absolute Ideas.
• God's Nature: Spinoza's God is "identical with God," but for Hegel, God is the "fullest reality," achieved
through self-determination and not reducible to the world and nature.
• Respect for Spinoza: Despite his criticisms, Hegel respected Spinoza, stating, "A philosopher must become a
disciple of Spinoza, you can either be a spinozist and not a philosopher at all".

Hegel vs. Berkeley

Similarities:
• Both reject matter.
• Both believe in an Absolute idea.
• Both established theism.
• Both consider God as Absolute ideas.
Differences:
• Subjective vs. Objective Idealism: Berkeley was a subjective idealist, whereas Hegel was an objective idealist.
 • Creation of Ideas: For Berkeley, "God are the creation of ideas to be is perceived." For Hegel, the Absolute Idea
is an "organic whole".

Hegel vs. Kant

Differences:
• Monism vs. Dualism: Kant held a dualistic view, while Hegel was a monist.
• Noumenal/Phenomenal vs. Absolute Idea: Kant distinguished between the noumenal (things-in-themselves) and
phenomenal (appearances), while Hegel's philosophy revolves around the Absolute Idea.
• Reason: Kant saw reason as limited, whereas Hegel believed in absolute reason.
• Agnosticism: Kant was agnostic regarding the ultimate nature of reality, but Hegel's philosophy is not.
• Soul, God, Ideas: These concepts appear differently in their philosophies.
• Antinomies vs. Dialectic: Kant presented his Antinomies in a dialectical manner, showing that both a thesis and its
antithesis could be simultaneously proven. However, Hegel adopted the dialectical method in a positive manner to
define the nature of the Absolute.
Criticisms of Hegel's Philosophy
Hegel's philosophy has faced several criticisms:
• Marxist Criticism: Karl Marx criticized Hegel's dialectical method for keeping ideas as its subject matter. Marx
argued that the dialectical method should not be concerned with ideas, but rather that all history is a dialectical
movement of dialectical materialism. Marx famously stated, "Hegelian Philosophy stays on its head and to make
it Straight just we have to reversed it and I am doing the same".
• General Criticisms:
• Hegel was accused of making mystery more mysterious.
• The concept of Absolute Ideas is considered unverifiable.
• The dictum "Rational is real and real is rational" is seen as difficult to comprehend.
• He is criticized by existentialists and logical positivists.
• Russell and Moore's Criticism: Analytic philosophers like Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore refuted Hegel's
idealism. They argued that reality is not a singular, unified system and does not exhibit a part-whole relationship.
Instead, they posited that everything is independent, and reality is plural.
• Sartre's Criticism: According to Jean-Paul Sartre, Hegel's Absolute Idea leaves no room for human freedom or
free will.