Hegel's World Spirit and Individual Freedom
History's Path towards Development of Humanity until the Classic Era
Mar 16, 2009
For the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770- 1831) history is both imbued with meaning and purpose. It is not based on coincidence or random events, but as a whole history represents a gradual growth towards individual rights and freedom and understanding oneself. This process, Hegel believed, starts from the stages of primitivism and ends up as “absolute knowledge” about oneself and one’s surroundings.
The First Stage of History and the Persian Empire
Hegel claims that world history is nothing but a progress of the consciousness of freedom and he believed that true history started with the Persian Empire. The Oriental societies of China and India he regarded as “stationary” because the only free individual was the ruler, which left no room for development among its citizens.
However, the theocratic monarchy of Persia was based on the religion of Zoroaster, the worship of light which would shine on every citizen in equal measure. Although the king would rule over everyone, it was not based on a “natural fact”, but rather a “general principle”, which constituted a first step towards humanity’s spiritual emancipation.
Hegel’s Concept of History and the Democracy of Ancient Greece
Although the Greeks had a democratic system, their definition of democracy varied greatly from the modern one. For the Greeks, slaves, as well as women and foreigners, were not regarded as free citizens and did not have any established rights. In fact, individual conscience or identity had not fully developed yet and the Greeks identified themselves with the polis, the Greek city-states. They did not perceive themselves of individuals within a given society, but as an integral part of their community, so much so, that there was no distinction between personal interests and those of the community.
Hegel claims that the Greek, despite their study and reflection of reason and freedom, were still mostly dependent on external forces, such as the customs and habits of their society, as well as the frequent dependence on oracles for decision-making; hence they are not considered free individuals.
The Roman State and the Acceptance of Abstract Freedom
The Roman State incorporated various elements of Greek thought into its social and political system. Hegel believes that historical epochs usually build on the previous accomplishments and accumulated knowledge and that in most cases they improve upon them.
As a result, the Romans established a political constitution and a legal system with individual rights as their essential foundation. However these rights were merely part of legal formality, which Hegel calls the “abstract freedom of the individual”. Yet true freedom still did not exist within the Roman system as they did not allow for diversity and different lifestyles. In fact, “concrete individuality”, as Hegel understands it, did not manifest itself until the age of Reformation and the ensuing French Revolution.
Sources
Singer, Peter. Hegel. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
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