By Absolute idealism is the theory that considers reality and truth to be thought in constant activity, in evolution. We invite you to learn more about this philosophical approach.
Modern philosophy has focused its reflection on the dualism between subject and object, worrying about how individuals know the world around them. However, Hegel’s absolute idealism is a theory that tries to overcome this dichotomy.
This author makes one of the most important and complete approaches in history, although somewhat complex. Starting from there, in this article, we will offer some keys to better understand this intricate theory.
What is Hegel’s absolute idealism about?
Absolute idealism is the philosophical theory proposed by the German Friedrich Hegel (1770-1813) as a response to the idealist proposals of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Johann Fichte (1762-1814) and Friedrich Schelling (1775-1854).
His hypothesis seeks to overcome the split between subject and object that prevailed in modern philosophy , which focused on how the individual knows the world around him.
During this period, theories were based on the subject or the object, giving rise to rationalist and empiricist currents . But Hegel’s absolute idealism tries to be a true one, where subject and object are unified as a necessity for the progress of knowledge.
Its objective is to make the human spirit aware that thought is the only mental activity capable of unifying the world and the mind, or the object and the subject.
Philosophical influence of absolute idealism
Although Hegelian theory takes contributions from Fichte and Schelling, it reaches conclusions that they did not reach. Hegel considers Fichte’s proposal about the Self as activity and reality to be correct, but criticizes that this subjectivity is never complete or concluded.
Thus, Fichte did not succeed in overcoming the split between the “I” and the “non-I,” or between subject and object. Nevertheless, Hegel adopts from Fichte the idea of Spirit as movement.
As for Schelling, Hegel finds his identity between subject and object empty and artificial, since it lacks a precise content. And he criticizes it with the famous phrase “a night when all the cats are grey”, highlighting the lack of meaning in this identity.
Key Features
In order to overcome the preceding idealist systems, the German philosopher structures his proposal based on the infinite conception of the spirit, the dialectical method and the speculative nature of his system. Let’s see what it’s about.
Reality as infinite spirit
According to Hegel, reality is spirit or thought. This means that we apprehend the world around us through the reflective activity that reason carries out on itself. In this sense, he characterizes thought or reason as infinite, since it is always acting and self-realizing through the dialectical method.
Dialectical method
Hegel considers that thought evolves by means of the dialectical method. This procedure is defined as a circular movement that reason performs on itself. At first, an idea is determined to be true.
This determination is then denied and overcome by a new idea. This is what is known as thesis, antithesis and synthesis. Therefore, this methodological proposal accounts for a reason that emerges, returns to itself and reflects on itself.
Knowledge of the absolute
The Hegelian perspective considers that the absolute, defined as the true idea of reality, is understood through the dialectical method. Thus, he believes that philosophy is elevated to the status of science. Dialectics, then, allows us to go beyond the appearances of the things that surround us by grasping reality and truth .
Speculative element
This is the third moment of dialectics, considered by Hegel as the peak of reason or the arrival at the absolute. Consequently, the speculative moment is positive, insofar as it provisionally denies the antithesis and from this denial a superior idea is proposed.
Unity between subject and object
All this theoretical framework allows the author to propose a new idealism, one in which the subject can know the absolute truth of the things of the world. Something that could not be achieved with Kantian criticism or transcendental idealism , because there was no such access as to the “thing in itself” or noumenon. The proposal is clear: one can reach the absolute through the activity that reason carries out on itself.
Historical evolution of absolute idealism
The absolute idealism that Hegel tries to explain develops in four different moments, which correspond to three different works by this German. Consequently, his philosophy gradually exposes the three parts of the realization of the absolute: the thesis, the antithesis and the synthesis. Thus, the Hegelian system encompasses reflection on the phenomenal world or the world of appearances, logic, nature and society.
Phenomenal world
In 1807, Hegel published Phenomenology of Spirit , in which he sets forth the passage from common consciousness to philosophical consciousness. The aim of this work was to elevate thought from common sense to absolute knowledge.
It consists of the philosophical path that reason must follow in order to reach the absolute. In this way, Hegel considers that at the end of the journey the difference between subject and object is eliminated through the unity of both.
Hegel’s logic
Once absolute knowledge has been acquired, that is, after the Phenomenology of Spirit , Hegel publishes his work Science of Logic (1812). In it he proposes to construct a true science with the help of a logical system that reaches the ultimate truths.
The most important novelty of this book is the identification between being and thinking, a thesis that the pre-Socratic philosopher Parmenides had already postulated. In this way, Hegel considers that thought, in its self-activity and self-realization, constructs its own being. This is where the identification comes from, since, due to the dialectical process, thought discovers its own being or essence.
Philosophy of nature
Nature is conceived by Hegel as the second moment of dialectics, that is, it is the negation of the idea. This means that the world around us is finite in opposition to the infinite activity of thought. Therefore, it is necessary that the ideas and presuppositions of objects or objectivity be negated in order to become infinite spirit, in other words, the absolute idea.
Philosophy of the spirit
This is the final part of absolute idealism in the sense that the idea, which was denied in nature, returns to thought. According to Hegel, spirit is the equivalent of God. However, the most important thing at this point is what the philosopher calls “objective spirit.”
It refers to the idea turned into the real world; it represents the realization of social institutions, the laws of the State and community life. Therefore, the objective spirit is realized in external things and objects. This is the Hegelian part of the philosophy of law set forth in his work Elements of the Philosophy of Law (1821).
Examples that try to illustrate Hegel’s absolute idealism
To represent the absolute idealism that Hegel expounds, it is useful to turn to concrete examples. Let us think of the transformation that a plant undergoes before becoming a fruit. First it was a bud, then a flower, and finally a fruit.
These three moments represent the dialectical method of Hegel’s philosophy: the cocoon is a determination that must be denied, in the first instance it is the idea, but it must be overcome to move to a higher stage.
Then we reach the flower, another determination to overcome. Finally, we arrive at the fruit, the synthesis or the absolute, the maximum that can be achieved in the dialectical process.
The same thing happens if we take a piece of clay as an example. We know that it has the potential to become a vessel. However , in order for it to take that form, it must go through a production process; it must be worked.
This is Hegel’s absolute idealism: an abstract idea goes through its multiple forms to become the absolute or supreme idea.
Hegelian idealism helps to understand evolving reality
Hegel’s absolute idealism is one of the most important philosophical currents of modern times. It represented the pinnacle of German thought. It is useful for us to understand our reality in terms of constant evolution, through conflict and overcoming it.
The Hegelian system does not only try to give a theoretical answer to the philosophical problems of its time. It also tries to build solid rational bases for our life in community. In that respect, it is not just about an abstract theory, but also about the concrete application of its ideas.