Single Idea 5433

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 3. Metaphysical Systems]

Full Idea

The basis of Hegel's system is that what is incomplete must not be self-subsistent, and needs the support of other things; whatever has relations to things outside itself must contain some reference to those outside things in its own nature.

Gist of Idea

For Hegel, things are incomplete, and contain external references in their own nature

Source

report of Georg W.F.Hegel (works [1812]) by Bertrand Russell - Problems of Philosophy Ch.14

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.83


A Reaction

This leads to the idealist doctrine of 'internal relations'. It has some plausibility if you think about the physicist's definition of mass, which has to refer to forces etc. Presumably there is one essence for all of reality, instead of separate ones.