Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Lectures on the History of Philosophy', 'fragments/reports' and 'The Philosophy of History'

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5 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined

21757	Philosophy is the conceptual essence of the shape of history [Hegel]
	Full Idea: Philosophy is the supreme blossom - the concept - of the entire shape of history, the consciousness and the spiritual essence of the whole situation, the spirit of the age as the spirit present and aware of itself in thought.
	From: Georg W.F.Hegel (Lectures on the History of Philosophy [1830], p.25), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 01
	A reaction: This sees philosophy as intrinsically historical, which is a founding idea for 'continental' philosophy. Analysis is tied to science, in which the history of the subject is seen as irrelevant to its truth. Does this mean we can't go back to Aristotle?

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature

21796	Man is God if he raises himself, by denying his nature and finitude [Hegel]
	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.
	From: Georg W.F.Hegel (The Philosophy of History [1840], p.324), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 10 'God'
	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.

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / a. Nature of virtue

467	A virtue is a combination of intelligence, strength and luck [Ion]
	Full Idea: The virtue of each thing is a Triad: intelligence, strength, luck.
	From: Ion (fragments/reports [c.435 BCE], B1), quoted by (who?) - where?

25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery

21783	State slavery is a phase of education, moving towards a full culture [Hegel]
	Full Idea: Because slavery exists in states, it is a phase of advance from the merely isolated sensual existence - a phase of education - a mode of becoming participant in a higher morality and the culture connected with it.
	From: Georg W.F.Hegel (The Philosophy of History [1840], p.98), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 08 'Rights'
	A reaction: [He adds that slavery should be removed slowly, not suddenly] A nicely provocative thought. Is it better to participate in something grand (like pyramid building) as a slave, or drift in dull isolation? How long should this 'phase' last?

21784	Slavery is unjust, because humanity is essentially free [Hegel]
	Full Idea: Slavery is in and for itself an injustice, for the essence of humanity is freedom.
	From: Georg W.F.Hegel (The Philosophy of History [1840], p.99), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 08 'Rights'
	A reaction: This is a corrective to Idea 12783, which offers a defence of the reality of historical slavery. That seemed to depend on some notion that each phase of history is necessary, which is implausible.