HEGEL - MAN

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>HEGEL</FONT><BR> THE ABSOLUTE IDEALIST</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Man</B></FONT><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>THE INDIVIDUAL WILL</B></FONT><P> <TABLE ALIGN=Left BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=2 CELLPADDING=1> <TR> <TD><IMG ALIGN=Left SRC="1608a.jpg" WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="264" ALT="TEUTONIC LORD"></TD> </TR> </TABLE> For Hegel, the state is the only true individual. The state "has supreme right over the individual whose supreme duty it is to be a member of the state". Those individuals whose will fails to identify with the larger will of the state become alienated and alienation of individuals breaks up the organic unity of the state. There are individuals who appear to have imposed their individuality on the course of history. They have been able to do so only because their will to personal liberty has been consonant with the larger historical movements of the time.<BR clear=left><BR> <FONT SIZE=4><B>FREEDOM</B></FONT><BR> Hegel distinguishes between what he terms formal freedom and substantial freedom. Formal freedom, the sort of freedom of the individual which inspired the Revolution, is negative. It merely expresses the will of rebellious individuals against oppressive authority. What is needed is a positive sense of freedom. This is only possible within a social context and when the individual is part of the larger life of the Mind or Spirit of the People. The moral system of the state is rational because Mind's <A HREF="../t03/g009.html" TARGET="_top">dialectic</A> has led history to this point. The choice to follow this moral system thus corresponds with reason and is a greater freedom than choice making based on individual whim. <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>