Single Idea 21796

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature]

Full Idea

Man is only God in so far as he negates the natural existence and finitude of his spirit and raises himself to God.

Gist of Idea

Man is God if he raises himself, by denying his nature and finitude

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (The Philosophy of History [1840], p.324), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 10 'God'

Book Reference

Houlgate,Stephen: 'An Introduction to Hegel' [Blackwell 2005], p.253


A Reaction

I suspect that it was ideas like this which motivated Nietzsche - denial of what we are, in the name of some idle daydream. I personally have no idea how to negate my natural existence or my finitude.