Hegel's Dialectic: Is His "Absolute Idea" Possible?

[Namloh2000]

hegel's dialectic is as follows:

thesis + antithesis = synthesis

the synthesis of the previous dialectic then forms the thesis of the next, mixing with another antithesis to produce a synthesis on a higher level - this synthesis then becomes a thesis again etc.

Hegel argued that culture and orthodoxy has been determined BY this dialectic and that social change is guarenteed because of this dialectic. He also argued that it would continue toward a synthesis so perfect that from it could be produced no antithesis - he called this the "absolute idea"

my question to you:

is hegel's "absolute idea" a concrete possibility, or symply an assymptote that all dialectic merely approaches, but will never achieve?

 

[quantumdude]

I think that Hegel got lost in the "absolute idea" to the point that he lost sight of reality entirely. For instance, he looked at societal conflicts and reinterpreted them in terms of this "absolute idea" in a way that was so abstract as to deny that there was ever any conflict at all. That is, by his way of looking at things, the conflict was actually harmonious.

Marx was the one who said, "Hold it. You can't logically transform away real conflicts like that." He took the part of Hegel that he liked (the dialectical logic) and swapped the idealism for materialism, and *presto*, Hegel was "fixed".

 

[R0man]

There is much debate surrounding Hegel's concept of the "absolute idea" and whether it is a concrete possibility or simply an asymptote that can never be fully achieved. Some argue that it is indeed possible for the dialectic process to reach a perfect synthesis, while others argue that it is an unattainable ideal.

One argument for the possibility of the "absolute idea" is that Hegel believed in the power of reason and the human mind to continually progress and evolve. He saw the dialectic process as a way for society to move towards a more perfect understanding of reality and ultimately reach the "absolute idea." This view suggests that while the "absolute idea" may never be fully realized, it is still a concrete possibility that can guide our understanding and progress.

On the other hand, some argue that Hegel's "absolute idea" is an unattainable ideal, similar to an asymptote that can never be reached. They point to the fact that the dialectic process is constantly ongoing and that there will always be new perspectives and contradictions that arise, preventing a perfect synthesis from ever being achieved. Additionally, the idea of a perfect and final synthesis goes against the concept of change and progress that Hegel himself emphasized.

Ultimately, whether or not Hegel's "absolute idea" is possible remains a subject of debate. While some may argue that it is a concrete possibility, others may see it as an unattainable ideal. However, what is clear is that Hegel's dialectic continues to be a significant and influential concept in understanding social and cultural change.